Young artists question the cult of speed

In the first half of the 20th century, groups of young Chinese traveled to Europe to pursue art studies. Many later became prominent figures in China’s cultural and educational circles.

The light they kindled along their artistic journeys shines brighter today, as growing numbers of young Chinese study in the very cities where their predecessors once lived and worked.

For the past 15 years, the University of the Arts London Chinese Student and Scholar Association has organized the Now — Showing project, showcasing artists who are studying art abroad. The latest edition, State of Becoming: Under Perturbation, is now on view at Beijing’s Today Art Museum. 

The exhibition explores the artists’ diverse cultural and educational backgrounds. Their works invite viewers to consider whether a state of incompleteness and a slower pace can be embraced in a world increasingly defined by speed, efficiency and outcomes.