Cross Culture Currents: The Art of Zhiyuan Cong, Chung-Fan Chang, Liqin Tan, Jing Zhou

May 6, 2018

Organized by West Windsor Arts Council in Princeton and in partnership with Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University and Chinese-American Art Faculty Association, the exhibition “Cross Cultural Currents: The Art of Zhiyuan Cong, Chung-Fan Chang, Liqin Tan, Jing Zhou” opened at West Windsor Arts Council on May 6, 2018.

Ms. Aylin Green, exhibition curator and Executive Director of West Windsor Arts Council emceed the exhibition opening. She stressed that “cross culture” lies in the interaction within different cultural contexts. “Cross Culture Currents” art is a practical outcome of such interaction. All four Chinese American artists are art professors at four NJ-based colleges and universities, whose artworks indicate the interactivity and crossover amongst different cultures, particularly the advantage of artistic diversity shown under the impact of cultural compatibility. This exhibition aims to show how different cultures influence their artworks.

As the co-organizer, one of the participating artists, Director of the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University and Chairman of Chinese-American Art Faculty Association, Professor Zhiyuan Cong gave a featured speech at the opening. On behalf of all the artists, the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University and Chinese-American Art Faculty Association, Professor Cong thanked West Windsor Arts Council and its Executive Director Ms. Aylin Green, especially for her team and their dedicated professional curation and installation; he thanked Mr. Shing-fu Hsueh, former Mayor of West Windsor for attending the opening ceremony, and thanked him for creating such a professional art gallery during his tenure that provides space and opportunity for art exhibitions and dialogues.

Zhiyuan Cong presented several paintings of his basketball series depicting basketball sport as a contemporary American religion and a symbol of America’s modern society. He borrowed elements from Chinese Han people figure stone relief for its simple, extravagant and vigorous lines to express masculine, sport and speed. There is also reference to Dunhuang grottoes’ frescoes of North Wei Dynasty, using rich colors to represent religious zest and passion towards basketball game. He hopes people will see the dynamics, the rhythm, the quick pace and life in his paintings as well as in our modern society.

Chung-Fan Chang, Assistant Professor of Art, Stockton University, introduced her “Kite” painting installation. Her work shows influence of Eastern imaginary personal landscape that reflects issues within the society and daily life experience. She draws inspirations from life experience, formal Chinese ink landscape and identifies the visual simile of color and its significance in culture.

Liqin Tan, Professor of Art Rutgers University-Camden, presented his computer graphics “Level Signals” series. The competing concepts of the brain — whether the battle of the brain’s size versus its intellectual expansion, or of its technological capacity versus its spiritual power — are kept in eternal equilibrium.

Mr. Shing-fu Hsueh, former Mayor of West Windsor, and Mr. Daryl Moore, Dean of the College of the Arts and Communication, gave their congratulatory speeches respectively. The opening ceremony lasted from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. More than 100 guests witnessed these four Chinese American artists using their art languages to overcome hurdles and bridge and blend Eastern and Western cultures and were touched by their unique artistic forms and styles.