Karen Smith

Symposium Beijing / 30.05 – 01.06. 2014 /
CAFA Art Museum
Day 1: ON THE DIFFERENCES OF COLLECTIVE PRACTICE

Lecture on the History of Groups in China from the Perspective of Collective Societies and Social Existence in China

ABOUT

British-born writer and curator Karen Smith first came to China from Hong Kong in 1992, with the express aim of researching and documenting the new art emerging there.  Based in Beijing since, she has been instrumental in her contribution to the contemporary Chinese scene through extensive writings and interviews, and exhibitions conceived to articulate art and artists at the forefront of creative developments here. 

 Smith is the author of a number of books including Nine Lives; The Birth of Avant Garde Art in New China (Timezone 8, 2006), Ai Weiwei (Phaidon, 2009), and As Seen 1 and 2. She is currently working on As Seen 3. Among the many exhibitions she has curated are “Revolutionary Capitals” (ICA, London, 1999), “The Real Thing” (Tate Liverpool, UK, 2007) and, more recently, “Life Most Intense” (Ma Ke solo exhibition, Platform China, 2012).
In 2012, Smith was appointed executive director of OCAT Xi’an, the newest contemporary art centre in the Shenzhen-based OCAT museum group.