Restored 1990s Chinese Films Showcased in 'Chinese Artists on the Edge' Program
There's a new film series called 'Chinese Artists on the Edge' that just kicked off, featuring five important films that explore the connection between modern art and Chinese cinema from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. Many of these films were hard to find or rarely screened, but they've been restored for audiences to enjoy. Among them are two notable films by director Zhang Yuan from the Sixth Generation. One is his student short 'White Lines' (1988, 白线), which has a playful vibe and includes neorealist painter Liu Xiaodong, and the other is 'Beijing Bastards' (1993, 北京杂种), an exciting look at Beijing's rock scene, now available in a newly digitized format. Zhang's work is paired with a city symphony highlighting another major Chinese city.
Key facts
- Program titled 'Chinese Artists on the Edge'
- Five landmark films included
- Highlights exchange between contemporary art and Chinese cinema
- Period covered: late 1980s to turn of 21st century
- Many films were long unavailable or rarely screened
- Restoration and archival preservation efforts brought them back
- Includes two films by Zhang Yuan
- 'White Lines' (1988) is a student short from Beijing Film Academy
- 'White Lines' stars painter Liu Xiaodong
- 'Beijing Bastards' (1993) is about Beijing's rock music scene
- 'Beijing Bastards' was digitized from original 35mm print
- Program also includes a city symphony about another Chinese metropolis
Entities
Artists
- Zhang Yuan
- Liu Xiaodong
Institutions
- Beijing Film Academy
Locations
- Beijing
- China