A Landmark Moment for Chinese Contemporary Art at SAMoCA@Jax

*presented by SAMoCA@Jax

The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow
SAMoCA @ Jax
Diriyah
Sep 27–Jan 18, 2025

The world of contemporary art continues to expand and evolve, often transcending borders and challenging the boundaries of national identity. A striking example of this global dialogue is “The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow,” an exhibition currently on view at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA@ Jax), located in Diriyah. This show marks a momentous occasion as it introduces the dynamic world of Chinese contemporary art to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the very first time. With works by prominent Chinese artists that engage with pressing cultural, social, and political questions, the exhibition reflects both the rich heritage and the radical transformations shaping China today. For Saudi Arabia, a nation undergoing cultural transformation, this historic introduction provides a unique opportunity for cross- cultural exchange, deepening the understanding of China’s rapidly changing art scene, while highlighting the relevance of global artistic conversations in the Middle East. As the Kingdom continues to cultivate its own contemporary art scene, the exhibition invites viewers to consider the ways in which contemporary Chinese art can speak to universal themes of change, identity, and collective memory—reaffirming that the writings of today indeed hold the promise for tomorrow.

Curated by Martina Koppel Yang, the exhibition brings together more than 30 artists of Chinese origin and showcases a collection of over 50 artworks, offering diverse and nuanced perspectives on the profound transformation of our contemporary society. “The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow” draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions through exploring two central elements they have in common: calligraphy and the garden. The exhibition highlights the profound significance of calligraphy as a cultural and societal practice in both Arabic and Chinese cultures. In both cultures, the written word and script are revered not only as a form of communication but also as a spiritual endeavor.

The balance between discipline and naturalness, a requirement for masterful calligraphy, links the field of writing with the domain of the garden. By definition, the garden is nature in an arranged order, and it is considered in both cultures a representation of creation, designed for the appreciation of beauty and spirituality, and for contemplation and conviviality. The exhibition is designed as a stroll through a series of thematic stages, exploring the interplay between presence and absence, action and contemplation, memory and imagination. Visitors are invited to reflect on ongoing dialogues shaping our contemporary world and contemplate future possibilities. Visitors will also have the chance to view pieces from prominent notable collections of contemporary Chinese art, such as the Donnersberg Collection (Paris) and the Dslcollection (Paris), alongside loans from artists and site-specific works produced in Saudi Arabia for the exhibition.

“The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow” demonstrates how the art of today continues to evolve, reflecting and reshaping the flow of cultural energy, connecting past and future, and embodying the promise of tomorrow.  By hosting this exhibition, SAMoCA@Jax embodies its mission of fostering cross- cultural collaboration and dialogue through art, and serving as a vibrant platform for Saudi and international artists to exchange, connect, and grow, shaping the future of contemporary art in the Kingdom and beyond.

The exhibition will run until January 18, 2025.

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Participating artists:

Adel Abdessemed (*1971/ lives in Paris)
Chen Jianghong (*1963/ lives in Paris)
Chen Shaoxiong (1962–2016)
Chen Tong (*1962/ lives in Guangzhou)
Chen Zhen (1955–2000)
Hai Bo (*1962/ lives in Beijing)
Han Lei (*1967/ lives in Beijing)
Huang Yongping (1954–2019)
Hong Hao (*1965/lives in Beijing)
Jiang Zhi (*1971/ lives in Beijing)
Li Donglu (*1982/ lives in Paris)
Michael Lin (*1964/ lives in Brussels)
Lin Tianmiao (*1971/ lives in Beijing and NY)
Liu Bolin (*1973/ lives in Binzhou)
Liu Wei (*1972/ lives in Beijing)
Qiu Anxiong (*1972/ lives in Shanghai
Qiu Zhijie (*1969/ lives in Beijing)
Ru Xiaofan (*1954/ lives in Paris)
Shen Yuan (*1959/ lives in Paris)
Song Dong (*1966/ lives in Beijing)
Tian Dexi (*1983/ lives in France)
Wang Bing (*1967/ lives in Paris)
Wang Du (*1956/ lives in Paris)
Yan Pei-ming (*1960/ lives in Paris)
Felicitas Yang (*1994/ lives in Paris)
Yangjiang Group (Chen Zaiyan (*1971)/Song Qinglin (*1974))
Yang Jiechang (*1956/ lives in Paris and Heidelberg)
Yang Yongliang (*1980/ lives in Shanghai and NY)
Zhang Huan (*1965/ lives in Shanghai)
Zheng Guogu (*1970/ lives in Yangjiang)