The China Moment. Contextualizing Individualism in Chinese Contemporary Art

The documenta Institut invites you to its first research exhibition at the Kasseler Kunstverein.

Opening: Friday, January 23, 2026, 6 pm
Exhibition dates: January 24–March 22, 2026
Venue: Kasseler Kunstverein, Friedrichsplatz 18, 34117 Kassel

Opening hours:
Tuesday–Sunday and public holidays, 11 am–6 pm
Thursday, 11 am–8 pm

With The China Moment, the documenta Institut focuses on a decisive phase in contemporary Chinese art. Spanning the period from the 1980s to the present day, the exhibition examines how art in China reflected society during a time of profound transformation against the backdrop of a shift from globalization to the multipolar present.

The 1980s marked the beginning of a period of profound political and economic change. Under the influence of Deng Xiaoping's reforms, a new artistic language emerged that combined individuality, social participation and humanistic perspectives. At the same time, China's opening up and increasing international networking offered new spaces for artistic experimentation and exchange with global discourses on individualism and social transformation. The exhibition shows how art not only reflected social developments, but often anticipated them. It reveals how the relationships between the individual, the state and society shifted and highlights what social energies, collective experiments and individual self-concepts emerged during this period.

Acting as both research project and exhibition The China Moment combines historical and narrative elements. Using archival materials, paintings, photographs, videos, installations, sounds and performances, the show presents works of art alongside the social contexts in which they were created — from spontaneous gatherings and illegal exhibitions in apartments to experimental club and performance scenes.

Participating artists
CAO Fei & OU Ning, CHEN Shaoxiong, Datong Dazhang, HAN Lei, HONG Hao & YAN Lei, JIANG Jie, KAN Xuan, LIN Yilin, Living Dance Studio (Wen Hui), MA Liuming, New Measurement Group (Gu Dexin, Wang Luyan, Chen Shaoping), NI Haifeng, SUI Jianguo, WANG Molin, TONG Sze Hong, ZHAO Chuan, WANG Bing, WANG Guangyi, WANG Tuo, WANG Youshen, WU Wenguang, XIAO Lu, ZHAO Yinou, ZHENG Guogu, ZHOU Tiehai, ZHUANG Hui

The accompanying exhibition catalogue includes new contributions by Mi You, Su Wei, and Anna-Lisa Scherfose, as well as republished historical texts by Wang Hui, Zhao Dingxin, Qin Hui, Zhang Xudong, Yang Guoqiang, Hong Zicheng and Wang Wei, some of which appear in English for the first time.

Curated by Su Wei, Mi You and Anna-Lisa Scherfose.

Guided tours of the exhibition

Regular public tours led by Franziska Weygandt will take place during the exhibition. In around 90 minutes, she will provide insights into the historical and social background of the works on display, introduce artistic approaches, and create space for joint discussions.

We are delighted that Jiaqi Hou will also be offering tours in Chinese/Mandarin. Dates will be announced shortly. Interested groups can already register to arrange individual times.

Public tour dates
Thursdays, 6:30 pm
Saturdays, 4 pm
Sundays, 12 pm

Participation is free of charge and registration is not required.
Private tours are also available for school classes, study groups, and other groups by appointment.

Program

Artist talk
Saturday, January 24, 2026, 6 pm; Kasseler Kunstverein, Friedrichsplatz 18, 34117 Kassel
Artists from different generations talk about their experiences and artistic careers since the 1980s and the question of how individual positions were and can be negotiated in a phase of profound social transformation.

Book presentation: Seeing through China
Friday, January 30, 2026, 7 pm; Hofbuchhandlung Vietor, Ständepl. 17, 34117 Kassel
Artist and curator Andreas Schmid provides insights into his experiences in German-Chinese exchange since the 1980s and shows images from several decades of his work in China.

Film screening: Ghosts, Icons, Clouds, Dreams
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 3 pm; BALi Kinos, Rainer-Dierichs-Platz 1, 34117 Kassel
From historical ghosts to digital technologies to new forms of work, these works by young Chinese filmmakers paint a picture of the complex intertwining of the country's political, economic, and cultural history. In cooperation with BALi Kinos Kassel.

Film screening: “I truly believe everything is accidental” – Four artist portraits
Saturday, March 7, 2026, 3 pm; BALi Kinos, Rainer-Dierichs-Platz 1, 34117 Kassel
Four documentaries provide insight into different artistic biographies and show how individual experiences, conflicts, and decisions are translated into their own artistic languages. In cooperation with BALi Kinos Kassel.