Chinese Contemporary Art inevitably finds its origin in the “1985 New Wave Art Movement.” This was the first large scale avant-garde movement in the History of Chinese Contemporary Art and the first real revolutionary art movement to deeply influence the development of the artistic currents in China until now.
Before the “1985 New Wave Art Movement,” several non official artistic groups had started action, such as the ‘Xingxing’ Association in Beijing and the ‘Yecao’ Exhibition in Chongqing. The “China Association for Anonymous Painting” was born with that background in Chongqing. It came from the “Jinglizhuang” Group which had been established in 1982 by young artists with common ideals. The arrival of new artists and the intensification of discussions led to the creation of the “China Association for Anonymous Painting” in 1983. The group members then started to spread declarations and materials to many parts of China through visits or by post. These activities brought a lot of repercussions and finally the “Art Exhibition of the China Association for Anonymous Painting” was set up in Chongqing in October 1985. At that time, this was the only national art exhibition organised by a non official group. The main difference between the “China Association for Anonymous Painting” and all other art groups was its openness. It operated as an information platform, not only spreading its own ideas and works but also sharing information on activities of various places to people interested in Chinese Contemporary Art. At that time, it drove many people eager to change the face of Chinese Art.
The information on this site, from the only resources available, leads us to understand the situation at that time. Because of conservative ideologies, new forms of art were strictly controlled and forbidden from museums. Therefore this Association chose extreme ways of exhibiting; in universities and often on the streets. These activities, unusual for this time, were mocked and criticised by the public… but such movement gave a new vitality to the world of Chinese Painting.
The “China Association for Anonymous Painting” had its own limitations; it experienced various changes, had to face many difficulties and finally disappeared. But under these specific conditions of history, they really brought a unique impact on the promotion of the development of the “1985 New Wave Art Movement”.
