Page 39 - The Parker Collection: Hua Qi Min

This utopian ideology underwent a huge transition in the early 1990s, as a result of
the Tiananmen Square incident and the shutting down of the Chinese Avant-Garde
Exhibition in 1989. With the failure of the democracy movement in the 1980s, and
under the unexpected rise of mass culture, many artists abandoned their humanistic
passion. More neutral or even cynical attitudes gave rise to Political Pop and Cynical
Realism in the 1990s.

Some believe that this downturn of the utopian avant-garde in the 1980s can be
traced back to some often neglected art projects that took place around 1986 and
1987. These projects signified deep dissatisfaction with the on-going Modern Art
movement. They tried to break out of the historical framework of western art, and
embraced local history, instead of being fixed on philosophical thinking. Furthermore,
they rejected collectivism and focused more on individual pursuits.

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Footnote/Ronald Parker: Hua Qi Min tried to leave China in 1988 to visit the U.S.
Despite my assistance to obtain his visa, the Chinese government did not allow the
artist to leave China. Yvonne and I are honored to share Min's art worldwide, through
this book and in exhibitions. We are excited to have 12 of his paintings in our private
collection. For the first time, we are offering these paintings for sale.

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Several books of Hua Qi Min's collected works have been published, including:
1970-1999 Zhongguo Mei Shu Quan Ji - Complete Collection of Chinese Artists
Zhongguo Xian Dai Mei Shu Quan Ji - Complete Works of Chinese Modern Art.