January 13, 2021

We have never been worried about the world as much as we do today. The feeling of crisis has been lurking beneath, on the one hand, the long-standing conflicts internal to humansociety, the blindly accelerating technological development, and the deteriorating environment. On the other hand, the panic over the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated such worries. We are suffering from a sense of helplessness while facing these unknown threats, as well as a stronger sense of isolation and loneliness facing the persistent global turmoil. The world has fallen into a greater predicament amid the anti-globalization processes. The cultural and artistic milieux likewise share the same worries. Facing an unknown future, the destiny of humankind is once again entwined with each other. Yet, the short vacuum of pause has also provided us room for reflection, for rethinking collectively. Rethinking collectivity is not only a review of history but, more importantly, an exploration of the wider possibilities of coexistence in the present and in the future.

Against such a historical background, Guangzhou Image Triennial 2021 with the theme "Rethinking Collectivity" aims to show different aspects of critical reflection enabled by the unique language of image-making and rethink humanity’s destiny together with the participants.

The concept of "collectivity" has undergone a long-term evolution to the present with broaderand more holistic significations in modernity. In historical narratives, collectivity once represented a community of memory and identity, for which image assumed the responsibility of preservation and reconstruction for a longtime. In the contemporary context, collectivity has attained more complexity and multidimensionality, and has become synonym of a collection of phenomena, a term, and even ways of posing questions. These conceptualizations have gone beyond the anthropocentric perspective. In this exhibition, we will continue to observe and discuss these issues: from the perspective of the global landscape, collectivity is the connection between human and nature, and also the traced human behaviors that are found in the natural landscape. Meanwhile, it’s also perceivedas a relational and happening frontier, and a heterogeneous network constructed by nature, technology, discourse and practice: collectivity has therefore become a multidimensional coexistence human society and nature, spirit and matter, as well as humans and non-humans. The rich and inclusive system of image art also enables the possibility of multiple expressions. Guangzhou Image Triennial 2021 also hopes to discuss the new narratives of contemporary image art by engaging with critical thoughts unique to our era.

Guangzhou Image Triennial 2021 consists of a theme exhibition and an archive exhibition. Wang Shaoqiang, Director of the Guangdong Museum of Art, will be the chief director of the Triennial and the curator of the archive exhibition. The theme exhibition consists of three parts: Why Collectivity? curated by the Hyperimage Group (Dong Bingfeng, Xiang Zairong, and Teng Yuning), Frontier Mentality curated by Yang Beichen, and Globalscape curated by Gerardo Mosquera. These three parts will be interwoven under the vision and framework of "Rethinking Collectivity" in an attempt to connect the past, the present and the future in macro and micro scales, in order to promote the practice of image art through open dialogues and exchanges. We will continue to reflect on the complex world we are living in.

Guangzhou Image Triennial 2021 will invite dozens of artists, film directors and scholars from all over the world to participate in the exhibition, screenings, academic forums and location-specific art projects. Based in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, we hope to make vigorous efforts to establish and promote a dynamic network of global academic research and artistic exchanges. More information about the Guangzhou Image Triennial 2021 will come soon.