Four Artists Reinterpret Ba Jin's 'Cold Nights' at Ullens Center for Contemporary Art

Between September 15 and December 17, 2017, the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing showcased 'Cold Nights,' an exhibition featuring four artists inspired by characters from Ba Jin's 1947 novel. Curated by Boliang Shen and Zhanglun Dai, the show sought to engage with contemporary societal issues. Nabuqi, portraying the mother, utilized mirrors to reflect on tradition. Liu Shiyuan's 2017 video, 'The Best Is Yet To Come,' examined evolving values for women. Li Ran's 'Night of Patmos' (2017) presented the wife's lover through fragmented storytelling. Chen Zhou's 'Blue Hole' (2017) illustrated the husband's quest for connection in an empty forest. ArtReview criticized the exhibition for its lack of context, complicating viewer understanding.