Considering the well-known historical and cultural status of the town, the inaugural "Anren Biennale" took place in October 2017 in Anren, Sichuan. Simultaneously, contemplating the future development goals of Anren town, the theme of the "Anren Biennale" encompass history, the present, and the future. Thus, in terms of art exhibitions and related academic arrangements, I positioned Anren within a sampling-style investigation in the context of globalization and regional intersections. Through the presentation of artistic creation and experimentation, interactive academic arrangements were employed to explore the interplay between historical memory and contemporary issues, aiming to overcome biases in the flattening and symbolization of contemporary art. The objective was to present the lively and diverse ideological and linguistic structures of contemporary art.
Additionally, an attempt was made to explore the potential impact of globalization and localization on the current visual culture, analyzing the historical diversity and complexity of regional characteristics while maintaining a global perspective. Anren was situated within a dynamic structure without central and marginal settings for understanding and presentation. This approach allowed the "Anren Biennale" to present contemporary art from various perspectives.
The theme of the 2017 Anren Biennale is " Today’s Yesterday." In today's society, the visual landscape has led to what is considered a "society of spectacle" (Guy Debord), where globalization adds an infinite imaginative modifier to the "spectacle," creating a multiplicity of issues and related reflections. Consequently, contemplating "what is today" has become an urgent topic. The reflective theme " Today’s Yesterday" is a strong contemplation of contemporary art, relevant to our current artistic situation. This theme signifies a renewed question that needs an answer: what is the art of today? This is what " Today’s Yesterday" contemplates and presents. Of course, the academic inquiries extend beyond this and include questions such as: what constitutes "today's art" in history? Simultaneously, how does today's art contribute to history? The orientation of artistic historical consciousness is also a question addressed by " Today’s Yesterday."