Sixteenth International Conference on the Arts in Society

Abstract

Contemporary Chinese art has mostly had a positive effect on China’s international image. However, artists in China are still not completely free to express themselves artistically. Politically sensitive works or works that may encourage criticism of the Chinese regime are removed by police and propaganda officials in China. Questions arise as to how Chinese authorities determine what artworks are to be censored. The growing artistic call for freedom of expression and increasing government control brings conflict. Regardless of the branding success of Chinese contemporary art internationally, artistic freedom and censorship has been a strategic game between contemporary artists and Chinese authorities.This essay explores the boundaries and tactics employed by contemporary Chinese artists under conditions of ideological control. This is with a frame of analysing artist’s diverse approaches to dealing with censorship: How do artists employ aesthetics to be able to voice a critical opinion under government censorship? The research focuses on ten Chinese contemporary artists living in China and explores these relations based on their personal experiences, stories, and artworks.