Chinese, French artists exhibit works of ecological concern in Beijing

Missika, another award winner, is also acclaimed by critics for the non-anthropocentric perspective in his work.

Born in Paris in 1981, Missika is a globe-trotter who uses a wide range of media, spanning photography, video and installation, to share his findings from his worldwide travels. The photos and videos on display at the Beijing exhibit, recording his interactions with plants and rocks, show his sustained interest in the relationship between humans and nature.

In Geological Monument I, a photo, Missika posed in front of a monumental rock; the contrast of their sizes can easily evoke  awe for nature’s vastness and mysterious might.

In Cure, a series of video installations, Missika is seen braving Berlin’s summer heat waves to water the weeds struggling at the city’s curbs and corners or gently wiping the dust-covered plant leaves. According to the artist, his service can help cure those ignored, crestfallen plants in urban areas where almost all activities are human-centered.

“Missika’s work carries a spirit of humor and self-reflection, pointing out how we can humbly approach our surroundings with various practical and modest methods. Cao and Chen, on the other hand, present us with a broader and historically grounded perspective, revealing distant realms that cannot be reached by ordinary vision but are equally relevant to us,” Lu remarked.

Part of the Croisements Festival, the Choi Foundation Contemporary Art Award, was co-launched in 2021 by the French Embassy in China and the Jonathan KS Choi Foundation, a private foundation established in 2003 by Hong Kong entrepreneur Jonathan K. S. Choi. Each year, the prize is presented to one Chinese artist and one French artist, who are each awarded 15,000 euros, encouraging them to create a new artwork that can raise public awareness about environmental issues.

The exhibition runs until September 17.

Where and when:

Tuesday - Sunday 11:00 - 18:00; Choi Centre · Cloud House, No.16 Huantie Zhixian Section A, Jiangtai, Chaoyang District, Beijing