带流量 | INFLUENCE

2019.08.17 – 2019.10.07

“Influence” is a reflection on the often-used phrase ‘internet celebrity’ (also known as an ‘influencer’) or ‘Wang Hong exhibition’, all of which are phrases and concepts that have recently emerged in response to a rapidly changing technological landscape. While the notion of the ‘internet celebrity’ ( ‘Wang Hong’ in China) has been present at some level since the internet-boom years of the 1990s, an accepted definition is still unclear, and ever-evolving, due to its manifestation in many different forms, and involvement in a variety of fields. 

The ‘Wang Hong exhibition’ in a Chinese context is a new form of exhibition produced especially in response to social networking and the sharing of   images online. Some of these exhibitions are created purely to be opportunities for taking selfies; others use technology in novel ways to create new kinds of exhibition experiences. The development of internet technology has not only changed our means of social interaction but similarly has altered the development of culture and art. “Influence” explores the concepts surrounding the ‘internet celebrity’ and ‘Wang Hong’ culture in three sections: Communication, Identification and Interpretation. By working with artists and the public, we hope to initiate a discussion regarding the aesthetic, ideological and experiential context of contemporary art in the current age. 

Artists: 乔茜 QIAO Xi / 任帅 REN Shuai / 叶甫纳 YE Funa / 张可可 ZHANG Keke / 周姜杉 Cedar ZHOU