Since the Stars (XING XING, in Chinese) Exhibition of 1979 there have been many moments of struggle for artists in China. A struggle to express themselves through art during times of open attitude and times of closing, traditional thinking and changing times. This exhibition brings together 17 artists’ works that contribute to the ongoing discussion on artistic freedom and expression in China and beyond its borders.

Feng Boyi, China’s most active curator, a man with his finger on the pulse of the art scene, brings to Hong Kong a powerhouse of new work from five outstanding artists. Having curated the controversial show “Fuck Off” in 2000 with Ai Weiwei in opposition to the Shanghai Biennial that turned China’s head upside down, the theme ‘Unveil the Red Curtain’ is a move beyond the direct reflections and interpretations of the Cultural Revolution. This progression does away with the need to refer directly to themes of the ‘Red Classics’ thus the work shown does not have obvious references to Mao, Tiananmen Square and other iconic Chinese imagery, rather it invokes memories of recent times in modern day China.

Feng Boyi’s strength as a curator relies on his depth of knowledge, his strong convictions and sense of humour; these characteristics are shared by all of the artists he has worked with on this project. They are: Meng Jin (Photography), Yu Fan (Sculpture), Song Dong (Videography), Wang Shugang (Installation), Jing Kewen (Painting).