To build a “Temple” of artworks
——Liu, Fengzhou, 2011
First of all, it’s been a dream of mine. I invested in many fields, but art and artworks have always been my favorite and focus. In the late 1990s, I started art collection as an interest. In 2004, I attended training classes in Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). That’s where I approached art history and contemporary art systematically for the first time. After a thorough research in art industry, I saw what it lacks but envisioned the prospects in this field. And I said to myself, “why not open an art museum?” The strong support from the government in cultural industry is another reason. In the outline of the State Eleventh Five-Year Plan for construction of culture, cultural industry was ranked as a major project of the overall national development strategic plan. The report in the sixth plenary session of the 17th CPC meeting requires us to energetically develop cultural industries and make it the pillar of our national economy.
Sishang Art Museum is a private non-profit art museum. We collect and study contemporary arts, focusing on sculptures, but covering installation arts and easel paintings as well. We want to build an art museum featured by interactive experience, a place where you can relax after a strained and busy work life, a place where you can enjoy the well-designed layout and artistic charm to comfort your mind and soul, and a place where you can stay out of the hustle and bustle of modern life. Besides eight exhibition halls, we have functional departments, such as independent and experimental theaters, research center, archives center and Sishang Art Academies, and supporting facilities like café, gift shop, bookshop and pub.
Sishang is governed by the curator accountability system under the leadership of the council. As the director of the first council, I invited several renowned collectors and prominent figures of art to be our members and offer their suggestions and advice. The curator is appointed by the council, and the academic board is responsible for the formulation and implementation of the exhibition schemes and academic activities. As a private non-profit art museum, our only source of funding came from the investment companies we ran during our early years. But it’s comforting to know that quite a few artists are planning to donate their works to Sishang, and we sincerely welcome any art donation from people of all circles. I hope we can join our hands in supporting cultural cause so as to push forward Chinese contemporary art.
I received home education at an early age and was raised to a life of traditional Chinese cultures. This may explain why my art collection began with traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. China, with a history of glory civilization over five thousand years and its rich and profound culture, has every reason to reach out to the world and interact with other cultures. Both Chinese traditional art and contemporary art are my interests. But the latter may never go deep and far unless it inherits the active factors from the former. That’s why I dream of building a “temple” of art. The solid base for the temple lies in traditional Chinese art.
Expanding global vision is also one of our future plans. We have set up 10 artist studios overseas as our supporting facilities. And we’ve decided to invite foreign artists to create artworks, exchange experiences and co-host exhibitions in Sishang over a three to six months period, and at the same time, support our best artist to go out more. In addition, we’ll seek cooperation with prestigious art museums and exhibition planners abroad to import and export art exhibitions. I hope Western audiences to better understand Chinese art due to our efforts.
My daughter once told me, “With single-hearted devotion, you can make anything happen because even God will bless you”. The government of Shunyi district provided us with substantial support in the examination, approval and registration of our project, and simplified the procedures for us, which was a great help in our planning and publicity for the museum. My heartfelt thanks also go to Mr. Fan Dian, the curator of National Art Museum of China. He pointed out that Sishang Art Museum should avoid detours and develop its own distinctive culture. He mentioned that National Art Museum of China has completed its development in the third stage, and we can full make use of it to broaden our horizon. There are numerous art museums in China. If Sishang wants to compete with others, it should never take detours. He also calls for a research center to be built in Sishang so as to push forward artistic innovations. In an effort spearheaded by Pan Gongkai, the president of CAFA，Sishang established strategic alliance with the School of Urban Studies of CAFA. With his insights into the Chinese cultural cause and film industry, the famous artist A Cheng suggested to set up an independent cinema and an experimental theater in Sishang. The research center for contemporary art is presided over by my dear teacher, Mr. Yi Ying. Artist Ying Shuangxi offered us many practical advices to learn. He expressed his expectations for Sishang to be enlisted in the key national art museums as a private art museum. I thank Professor Sui Jianguo a lot for his devotion to Sishang and Carrot Art District, and his donation of the artwork “94 degrees 8 cents”, the very first collection of Sishang Art Museum.
