In conjunction with the exhibition Poetry goes no further than language, this symposium invites leading art historians, curators and artists to discuss various aspects of conceptualism and Chinese art. Presentations will consider histories of conceptualism and post-socialist art in China and whether conceptualism remains a relevant framework for understanding contemporary Chinese art today, as well as connections between Chinese conceptualism and post-object art in Australia and New Zealand.

To accompany Conceptualism and China, a display of archival materials related to the conceptualist periods of Hong Kong-born artists John Young Zerunge (b. 1956) and Eva Yuen Man-wah (b. 1952) in Australia and Aotearoa, c. 1979-1982 will be on view (22 September-3 October).

Speakers:

Genevieve Trail (Lead Convenor), PhD Candidate, Art History, School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne

A/Prof. Yu-Chieh Li, Department of Fine Arts, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Sueann Chen, PhD Candidate, Art History, School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne

Dr Minerva Inwald, Assistant Lecturer in Chinese History, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne

Prof. Claire Roberts, Art History and Curatorship, School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne

Prof. Paul Gladston, Judith Neilson Chair of Contemporary Art, UNSW

John Young Zerunge, Contemporary artist

Peter Tyndall, Contemporary artist

Carol Yinghua LU, Co-curator, Poetry goes no further than language

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Poetry goes no further than language

1 May 2026 – 3 October 2026

Poetry goes no further than language revisits a defining moment in 1980s China, when artists began to question the very foundations of art. Featuring works by the Beijing collective New Measurement Group and Shanghai-based artist Qian Weikang, the exhibition brings these seldom seen experiments to Australia for the first time, alongside a new commission by Melbourne-based artist Darcey Bella Arnold. Curated by Liu Ding and Carol Yinghua Lu.

Image credit: John Young, Fragments from the Great Wall, artist book, 1980.

Bookings are required, with capacity limits applying to the event.

This event will take place in the Education Gallery on Level 1 of Buxton Contemporary.

Seating for the event will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please visit our accessibility page for additional information about Buxton Contemporary

For further access requests or queries regarding this event contact mc-publicprograms@unimelb.edu.au

This event is presented in partnership with the Art History and Art Curatorship program, University of Melbourne.

Supported by the UNSW Judith Neilson Chair of Contemporary Art (JNCCA)