Artists invited to join in at CAC

A CHINESE artist is calling on local painters, sculptors and performers to come and take part in his Manchester exhibit.

Wang Jun wants Manchester-based arts to respond to idea of Scholar’s Rocks to make a piece of work based upon a legendary rock to exhibit in his open studio at Chinese Arts Centre (CAC).

Deng Xiaoping, the leader of the People’s Republic of China, once stated that “To cross a shallow river, one must follow the rocks under the water” and Jun has been inspired by this sentiment and has decide to create art which has a continuous process like the flow of a river.

He has decided to assemble a series of ‘rocks’ so that he can navigate this river and commence the process of making work.

The first part of this process is to understand the culture of Manchester and Jun has been systematically collecting flyers from around the city.

He believes that these flyers will give him an insight into the tastes, aspirations and culture of the city and through these he hopes to gain an understanding of Manchester which will resonate through the work he will make during his residency.

Jun aims to construct a work of permanence from the flyers which are temporal by nature. Cutting these into tiny pieces he will create a Scholar’s rock – a naturally occurring rock on which scholar’s traditionally sit and contemplate.

Embodying the city’s culture, the rock will form a point of contemplation from which Jun would like to invite artists to seek inspiration.

He hopes artists will make a work based upon the myths and legends, proverbs and games synonymous with rocks or stones and has invited  local artists to interpret this in their own unique way.

These works will be exhibited with his work in Open Studio at the close of his residency in CAC from 15 to 22 April 2010.

If you are interested in taking part in this project contact CAC at info@chinese-arts-centre.org.