Our
Forum
Location: Shanghai, China
Date: July 28, 2024
Participants: 60
Topics: On the exploration and innovation of new generation art
Shanghai | “Asian Summer of Art” Forum Successfully Held
On July 28, 2024, the Asian Summer of Art forum series—organized by the Asian Academy of Arts—was successfully held in Shanghai. As the first major forum following the launch of the Asian Emerging Artist List, this event marked a new chapter in promoting the next generation of Asian artistic voices.
The forum was hosted by well-known media personality Minxiao Fu, former host of Dragon TV. Panelists included Tingting Fang, President of the Asian Academy of Arts; Nuo Zhuang, Chairman of Baizhong Art Capital; Jiqiang Chen, Managing Director of Keystrong Alliance; and Congrong Wu, one of China's pioneering gallery owners. The event gathered over 100 participants, including collectors, curators, investors, and artists from leading institutions such as the Royal College of Art, Columbia University, China Academy of Art, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, and Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.
Opening Remarks: Building a Platform for the Next Generation
In her opening speech, Tingting Fang shared that the founding of the Academy originated from her personal experience as an artist—hoping to build a platform for those who, like her younger self, lacked exposure despite talent. She emphasized that the Asian Academy of Arts is not limited by medium or form, but is committed to fostering an inclusive and experimental environment for emerging artists.
She officially announced the global rollout of the Asian Emerging Artist List across five cities—Shanghai, Hong Kong, London, New York, and Singapore—through a three-stage process combining online and offline curation. The initiative will support artists through exhibitions, forums, art residencies, academic recommendations, and more.
Keynote: “Asset Rebalancing – Collecting in the Post-Real Estate Era”
Speaker: Nuo Zhuang
In a keynote rooted in macroeconomic insight, Zhuang—former CEO of SouFun Shanghai and Chairman of Ping An Haofang—declared: “The age of real estate speculation is over. The next wave of wealth lies in culture.” He emphasized:
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Art as a long-term investment (7–10 years hold recommended)
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Cultural capital will outperform real estate in ROI
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Top-tier artworks are the new “hard currency”
Zhuang supported his claims with market data:
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A Sanyu painting sold in 1993 for HK$970,000, reached HK$303.98 million by 2019—a 300x increase
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Qi Baishi’s work rose from ¥10,000 to ¥2.76 million between 1993–2020
He further explained the functions of art in modern finance:
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Art-backed loans and leasing models
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Tax advantages in auction and bonded imports
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Art as a tool for intergenerational education and social status transfer
Forum Highlights: “Emerging Art & Investment in the Contemporary Age”
Duration: 45 minutes
Moderator: Minxiao Fu
Panelists: Jiqiang Chen, Congrong Wu, Tingting Fang, Nuo Zhuang
On the Definition of “Emerging”
Congrong Wu:
Emerging should not be defined by age, but by whether an artist offers something new to the global discourse. “An artist is young if their work poses a new question or proposes a new language.”
Nuo Zhuang:
Disagreed. “The art world still uses age markers. We categorize by generation: post-60s, post-70s, post-80s. Even major auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s use ‘B.’ for birth year.”
Jiqiang Chen:
Broke the tension with humor: “Art is the angel. Investors are the devil. But angels and devils together make magic.”
He emphasized passion and drive over age or background: “We invest in people, not paintings. Character matters.”
Tingting Fang:
Agreed with Chen: “I’m drawn to emotionally intense work—pieces that stir something visceral. Beyond academic merit, what captures me is an artist’s urgency, energy, and risk.”
On Style, Originality, and the Artist’s Voice
Nuo Zhuang:
“Innovation must outweigh imitation. True artists must not just repeat their teachers. Even Zhang Daqian started with mimicry but became iconic through his splashed ink style.”
Jiqiang Chen:
“Contemporary art isn’t about pleasing everyone. If an artwork lacks vitality, it won’t sell. We want artists who dare to break through.”
Congrong Wu:
Warned against formulaic mimicry of Western paradigms:
“Too many Chinese artists follow frameworks set by others. Real art proposes—not answers—questions. It doesn’t conform. It expands.”
On Supporting Emerging Artists
Tingting Fang shared plans for:
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International exhibitions and group shows across global art centers
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Creating open calls and transparent selection via blind online review
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Supporting artists through both curatorial exposure and collector match-making
Nuo Zhuang added:
“Collectors need to hold, not flip. Only then does art appreciate meaningfully.”
Final Reflections
Jiqiang Chen concluded with a message of encouragement:
“Don’t be discouraged by what the ‘old guard’ says. Every generation has its pioneers. Today’s young artists have tools we never had—use them to break new ground.”
Minxiao Fu closed the session noting:
“This forum was more than a discussion—it was a deep reflection on innovation, aesthetics, capital, and global relevance. We hope this is only the beginning of a much larger conversation.”
A Selection of Works Presented During the Forum
