What are the most helpful Chinese contemporary art platforms to look for facts and information?
When I started to get more interested in Chinese contemporary art I was digging into the internet but found only a lot of information about the few top contemporary artists everybody in the West knows. That seems to me a bit too much on the surface since I wanted to find emerging artists that I can watch (even buy some works) and then follow how they grow over time. But as you know with the language barrier of Chinese speaking and writing, it is not easy to find Chinese contemporary art platforms that really help in research.
However there are a few that publish in english which are a good resource to start with and a few in Chinese that can be navigated and at least roughly understand by using Googles Chrome Browser with the automatic translation function.
Where to find an overview about contemporary art in China?
Well…hopefully you checked out my other articles here on chinaARTlover.com that are aiming for just that purpose in giving a quick overview on contemporary art and artist in China. Then in a next step you will have to dig your self into some of the following chinese contemporary art platforms that I found very useful to check out regularly.
1. Ran Dian 燃点
Ran Dian 燃点 online magazine was launched 2010 in Shanghai by Chris Moore, Daniel Szehin Ho and Rebecca Catching. They publishing in Chinese and English to promote independent cultural debate in China and foster intellectual exchange between China and the rest of the world. This means independent commentary on art, video, architecture, design, artists, exhibitions and galleries.
2. Art Radar
Art Radar was founded on a desire to make the contemporary art world accessible to all, from amateur art enthusiasts to serious collectors, art professionals and scholars. The editors scan the global art press on- and offline to bring you selected topical stories about the changing-taste, hot news and the up-and-coming artist in Asian contemporary art. Furthermore they conduct original research and interviews with leading artists, curators, gallerists and other art professionals to give an unbiased and direct view into the world of Asian and Chinese contemporary art.
3. LEAP 艺术界
LEAP is the international art magazine of contemporary China. Published twice a year in Chinese and English, it presents a winning mix of contemporary art coverage and cultural commentary from the cutting edge of the Chinese art scene.
4. HK Art Gallery Association
Founded in 2012, the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association is a member-based non-profit organisation of around 50 established art galleries in Hong Kong. Their mission is to increase the understanding and appreciation of the primary art market for Hong Kong as one of the most dynamic art centres in the world.
In addition to hosting regular Art or Art-related Talks and Tours open to the Hong Kong community throughout the year, each November brings Hong Kong Art Week: a week-long Arts Festival of Talks, Tours, Studio Visits, special art events and circling Art Buses touring the different art districts.
5. ArtLinkArt
ARTLINKART is an bilingual online database project for Chinese contemporary art. The aim is about archiving the complete Chinese contemporary art history more accurately and subjectively. It provides a basic information register for everything from academic study to investment reference and other professional purposes.
6. CAFA Art info
In 2011, CAFA ART INFO came to life with the assistance of the resources from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. By using the advanced academic perspective, the heritage of classical art, CAFA ART INFO is promoting the creation of contemporary art while also addressing art education and research in the field of art. It provides information and a comprehensive directory of Chinese artists, galleries, exhibitions and institutions.
7. K11 Art Foundation
K11 Art Foundation (KAF) is a registered not-for-profit organisation in Hong Kong with a vision to be a sustainable incubation force in the global ecosystem of art, design and creativity. KAF serves as a sustainable incubating springboard where young emerging artists from Greater China are nurtured and their creative ideas and contribution to humanity are globally manifested. Through their innovative educational programmes, art spaces across Greater China KAF provides easy access to appreciate art and there collective understanding of Chinese culture.
From here on I recommend using Googles Chrome browser with the automatic translation function to be able to read the rest of my recommended Chinese contemporary art platforms!
8. Art Power 100 中国艺术权力榜
The China Art Power List is the most authoritative annual list of the art industry. It has been successfully held for ten times since its inception in 2007. They offer a nice news section as well as an overview of ongoing art projects to watch.
9. ARTNET
ARTNET is providing a great offer on ongoing news from auctions news, industry information, update on collections as well as welfare projects.
10. Yimei China
Yimei was founded in October 2015 as art website for Chinese art and culture. Providing information on Galleries, art institutions, auction news, and live coverage of classic as well as contemporary art .
11. Artmmm
This one is a quite interesting website: China Art Banking is the first portal focusing on the art market and financial management/investment.
The website aims to report about the trends in the Chinese art market and advocating about collecting with an eye on financial management.
Main art categories of this website are: art news, financial news, calligraphy, Chinese painting, oil painting, watercolor, printmaking, sculpture, photography, contemporary art as well as arts and crafts.
12. Yishubaodao
Yishubaodao is Chinas leading Art Information Network and professional art portal! It covers mostly classic artist and art (Calligraphy, painting, Jade, etc.) as well as contemporary art.
13. Painter China中国书画家网
PainterChina is a public welfare art professional website that integrates culture, literature, art information, exhibitions as well as calligraphy and painting exchanges, seminars, transactions, collections, and painters and artists. The website welcomes a wide range of artists, painting and calligraphy enthusiasts to participate, exchange, cooperate and share.
14. Mei Lan Tian Xia
Mei lan tian xia is an art communication brand established by Wuxing Culture in Beijing. Together with Fangtang Art, it constitutes an art industry system for art information release, artist promotion and art sales. It is dedicated to artists and art practitioners all over the world. Relevant art institutions provide the best service.