M+ exhibition 'Canton Modern' highlights Hong Kong's impact on modern Chinese visual culture from the 1900s to 1970s.
The exhibition 'Canton Modern: Art and Visual Culture, 1900s–1970s' is on display at M+ in Hong Kong from 28 June to 5 October. It explores how the region shaped China's modern artistic expressions amid political turmoil, featuring over 80 years of visual works, such as paintings, photographs, and propaganda. The British colonial status of Hong Kong played a crucial role in the dissemination of revolutionary concepts. Notable pieces include Gu Yuan's woodcuts 'Exploding Bunkers' (1948) and 'Seed-sowing' (1939), Gao Jianfu's 'Flying in the Rain' (1932), and Chao Shao-an's 'Skull in a Faded Dream' (1955). The exhibition also highlights the New Woodcut Movement, initiated by Lu Xun, and concludes with visuals of revitalized cross-border train services.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Canton Modern: Art and Visual Culture, 1900s–1970s' at M+ in Hong Kong
- Dates: 28 June to 5 October
- Features paintings, photographs, propaganda posters, woodcuts, and commercial imagery
- Highlights Hong Kong's role as a hub for revolutionary ideas during British colonial rule
- Includes works by Gu Yuan, Gao Jianfu, Chao Shao-an, Li Hua, and Szeto Kei
- Explores the New Woodcut Movement founded by Lu Xun
- Covers commercial imagery from Guangzhou, including Tiger Balm posters
- Examines social and political changes through sections like 'Identity and Gender' and 'Parallel Worlds'
Entities
Artists
- Gu Yuan
- Gao Jianfu
- Chao Shao-an
- Li Hua
- Szeto Kei
- Lu Xun
- Kang Youwei
- Tan Yuese
Institutions
- M+
- ArtReview Asia
- Current Affairs Pictorial
- Tandu'an Convent
Locations
- Hong Kong
- China
- Guangzhou
- Shanghai
- Japan
- Europe
- United States
- Southeast Asia
- Guangdong
- Anshan