Irish Wave

Travelling Quilt

Bow Arts Trust

Tsinghua Academy

SiNordic Arts Space

In March 2009 BIGsmall curated a group exhibition of contemporary Irish and Chinese art in Beijing, at Tsinghua Academy of Arts & Crafts, entitled 'City'. The idea for this exhibition grew from a seminar and exhibition of Irish Contemporary Art called ‘Through Irish Eyes’ which Fion Gunn curated in Beijing in September 2007. The Irish artists who participated in the exhibition and attended the seminar were able to network with their Chinese peers and this resulted in an examination of themes which drew both the Irish and Chinese artists together.

The Irish artists who came to Beijing were inspired by the complex and overwhelmingly urban environment. Until recently, both Ireland and China were predominantly rural countries, where the vast majority of Chinese and Irish people lived in poverty. In both countries recent growth in urbanisation has demanded the re-imagining of cultural archetypes and modes of expression. The artist's response to these challenges were diverse and excitingly individual.

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Michael Hegarty
Pan Yiqun
Audrey Mullins
Liang Zhilong
Fion Gunn
Shao Kang
Sorcha Rooney
Zhou Ting
Niamh Lawlor
Jonathon O'Dea
Catriona Ahearne

Brian Whelan
Zheng Xuewu
Annette Hennessey
Cheng Xiangjun
Li Fubiao
Medhia Ting
Ray Murphy
Dara McGrath
Denise Kum

Designed by Ray Murphy