Wang Jianwei @Guggenheim

This fall the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum presents a three-part exhibition of new work by Wang Jianwei, an influential Beijing-based artist noted for his bold conceptual practice and decades-long contributions to the Chinese avant-garde. Wang Jianwei: Time Temple is the artist’s first solo museum exhibition in the United States.

Time Temple is the first of three commission-based exhibitions realized through The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Chinese Art Initiative at the Guggenheim Museum, which explores the ideas and works of artists from China, who are shaping contemporary art within a global context. The commissioned works will enter the Guggenheim Museum’s permanent collection as The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Collection. The exhibition is organized by Thomas J. Berghuis, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Curator of Chinese Art, with Stephanie Kwai, Assistant Curator, Asian Art, as part of the Guggenheim Museum’s Asian Art Initiative, which is under the direction of Alexandra Munroe, Samsung Senior Curator, Asian Art.

“The presentation of Time Temple is a significant step forward for the Guggenheim’s Asian Art Initiative, which has been expanding our network of relationships, our base of knowledge, and our collecting since 2006,” stated Richard Armstrong, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation. “Thanks to the farsighted generosity of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, and the artistic vision of Wang Jianwei, we are proud of our ongoing engagement with radical contemporary art being made in China today through this commission and those to follow.”

“Contemporary art is an important way to understand the transformation of society and culture in our time,” said Robert Y. C. Ho, chairman of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation. “Chinese contemporary art is emerging rapidly and fulfills the same challenging role that contemporary art fulfills in other societies. It questions the status quo and makes people think about their world in different ways. By presenting new commissions at the Guggenheim, the Foundation hopes audiences will gain deeper insight into contemporary Chinese society and culture, and where it is heading in the future.”