On April 27, 2024, the "Touch: Finding the Warmth of Life" art exhibition was inaugurated at the Shanghai Fotile Art Center, co-hosted by AUMZENS Art, Bi Hu Culture, and Bage Fine Arts. The exhibition features thirteen professional and amateur artists, including Li Changba, Gan Xiaoying, Li Shuyi, Zhang Jiangwei, Song Qinlin, Wang Shuo, He Zheng, Bai Yun, Liu Tao, Shanshan, Wang Yigao, Zhen Wen, and Zhou Xin. Their distinctive works showcase their individual artistic perspectives and personalities. This group appearance of predominantly amateur artists is a unique exhibition and collective, reflecting a distinct social and cultural phenomenon in Shanghai.
With the rapid development of society and the diversification of cultural concepts, the relationship between art and society is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Art is no longer exclusive to the elite but has permeated the everyday lives of ordinary people, becoming a vital medium for expressing personal views and social attitudes. The "Touch" art exhibition not only displays how artists use art to touch and reflect the diversity of life but also explores how art can act as a force to influence and change social perceptions.
This art exhibition gathers works from artists with diverse backgrounds to observe and understand the cultural complexity of "everyday life" from a unique perspective. These works are not only artistic expressions but also profound reflections and direct responses of the artists to real-life and social issues. The theme of the exhibition not only presents art as a bridge connecting individual experiences with social structures but also expresses the new role and challenges of art in modern Chinese society.
In the contemporary art scene, a unique trend is gradually emerging—amateur artists. These creators, untrained in formal art education, redefine the boundaries and meanings of art with their unique perspectives and pure passion. Looking back to the 19th-century revolutionary events in art history, young painters including Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Edgar Degas bypassed traditional historical and mythological themes to focus on depictions of everyday life and natural landscapes. In 1874, they held an independent exhibition in the studio of the photographer Nadar in Paris. Although this exhibition was harshly criticized by the art authorities at the time, their works are now considered milestones in the birth of Impressionism.
In our current era, the widespread availability of internet technology has made the creation and sharing of art more accessible than ever, and the trend of diversification in art has become more apparent. Artists establish personal IPs through platforms like social media, engaging directly with audiences without the need for validation or promotion by traditional art institutions or galleries. Additionally, the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought new possibilities to art. Artists can easily create and explore new forms in digital spaces, quickly generating and sharing their works. They expand their artistic expressions effortlessly by merging different mediums, styles, and themes, creating a wide range of visual experiences. These phenomena directly emphasize art as part of social practice: it reflects social structures and cultural dynamics.
Joseph Beuys once proposed the idea that "everyone is an artist," not implying that everyone can paint or sculpt, but emphasizing that everyone can create art through their social actions and participate in shaping society. This means that artistic creation is not limited to the traditional field of visual arts but includes a broad range of social innovations and cultural practices. Beuys also highlighted the therapeutic role of art, believing in its ability to heal individuals and society. Many of his works and performance art centered on how to use art to address social and personal issues, such as his "7000 Oaks" project at Documenta in Kassel, which was not only an art installation but also a profound ecological and social conservation project.
From a sociological perspective, Beuys' concept provides a new way to understand art as a form of social action. Art is no longer an aloof and isolated entity but deeply integrated into every corner of society, closely related to the public's daily life. Reflecting on the artists participating in the "Touch" exhibition, their inspirations directly stem from their everyday experiences, social identities, and observations of the surrounding world. They are intuitive responses to personal social experiences and proactive engagements and commentaries on social realities. In the history of art, the rise of non-professional artists reminds us to rethink what art is and who can define it. Through their eyes, we see a broader and more diverse world of art. In this process, art is re-endowed with the unique power to connect society, express the self, and promote understanding and communication.
This socially conscious nature of artistic creation particularly aligns with Beuys' concept of "social sculpture," where art should intervene in society, inspiring public participation and reflection. The works of "grassroots" artists often resonate with the public because they reveal the states and emotional experiences of ordinary people in modern society. This not only gives art a
broader social function but also changes the standards and ways of appreciating art. We not only see artists interpreting the aesthetics and emotions of everyday life with their unique perspectives and creative passion but also how they respond to real issues and explore the relationships between individuals and society through their art. This exhibition, with its openness, diversity, and deep social consciousness, provides us with an opportunity to reexamine the relationship between art and society. Art is not just an aesthetic pursuit but a form of social practice, a profound reflection, and response to our times.
From the birth of Impressionism to Joseph Beuys' concept of "social sculpture," to the rise of amateur artists today, the definition and function of art are being continuously expanded and reshaped. Art has never been confined to the ivory towers of the elite but is deeply rooted in the fabric of society, reflecting and influencing how people understand their circumstances and the world. In the current context, the significance of art as a tool for communication and understanding is particularly highlighted, capable of bridging individual and collective, private and public. The new era of art is this open, diverse form, through which we can explore more societal dialogues and rediscover the warmth and meaning in life.
(Curator: Gan Xiaoying, PhD in Sociology, East China Normal University)
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