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| Weng Ling on Art Basel Miami |
| By ArtZine Staff |
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 eng Ling, the founding director of the Shanghai Gallery of Art, announced earlier this month that she is returning to Beijing to work on a variety of art projects ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. But before that, in early December, she will curate a show at Art Basel Miami, featuring a group of Chinese nine artists who are  among the country's best: Zhou Chunya, Gu Dexin, Liu Wei, Liu Jianhua, Zeng Fanzhi, Wang Jianwei, Xu Jiang and Wang Qinsong. Weng Ling has about 700 square meters of space. She'll exhibit paintings, sculpture work, photography and installations. ArtZineChina.com talked to Weng Ling recently about her new project in the United States .
Artzine: Why are you joining Art Basel Miami ?
 Weng Ling: The Design Miami founders came to my space and said, Why don't you join Art Basel Miami ? They think Chinese contemporary art is an important part of the art scene. So they think I should take some art to Miami. They've never had Chinese art in a big way; they've only shown some pieces inside the art fair. But this is going to be an independent art show. People expect it to be like a museum show. It's free. It's like 798 [in Beijing ], Huang Rui's space. Also, the board of directors of Art Basel, when they came to Shanghai they made it clear they want a museum level show. So this year there will be a big French emerging artist space and our Chinese art show. The Guggenheim and the Pompidou [from Paris] have used the space we'll be exhibiting at. These are museum level shows. I want international art institutions to understand what is now happening with Chinese contemporary art. I want to give the international community a deeper understanding of Chinese contemporary art.
Artzine: What's your plan?
 Weng Ling: I really want to introduce what is happening in the cultural space in China . I want to show artists who can think and criticize what is happening in society, artists who make people think. You know, for a long time I didn't want to bring Chinese art to the international circle. But recently, more people are thinking about Chinese art, and how crazy is the market value. Before, they thought about China and thought about the Communist Party. Now, western thinkers only think of these political icons of the art world. Well, I think that is a really shallow way of thinking. I want to show the real Chinese artists. I want to show their personal characters. For instance, Gu Dexin and Liu Wei. People think of Liu Wei as political pop. But he's a really talented artist. This is the art they want. So I decided I am going to have: Liu Wei, Zhou Chunya, Xu Jiang, Zeng Hao, Wang Jianwei, Gu Dexin, Wang Qingsong, Zeng Fanzhi and Liu Jianhua. All these artists are personal. They keep doing work based on personal choice not on societal choice. These Chinese artists all have their own timing. They all have their way. Gu Dexin is very political but he keeps changing. These are all new works.
ArtZine: Are you trying to change the way the international world thinks about Chinese art?
Weng Ling: Yes, I want to communicate to the international art world and show them something different. For instance, Gu Dexin and Liu Wei -- I respect them. We need to show that Chinese art is not like the international art. Liu Wei and Zhou Chunya could be western artists but they also have Chinese techniques too. Gu Dexin is always creating something about society.
ArtZine: How do you see your role? Are you a dealer or a curator?
Weng Ling: I've always worked as an independent curator. My job is really like a film director and producer. So you can't say I'm just a dealer or a curator. This space is very important in Art Basel Miami. These are great artists. This is like a showcase for Chinese contemporary art. Mostly, I like to curate topics. From the Zhanjiang project [in the Pudong area of Shanghai ] and I like a show with topics about what's happening in my life or society.
Beyond Icons: Contemporary Chinese Art in Miami, an exhibition featuring the work of eight artists will be presented at the Newton Building in the Miami Design District, from December 6 - 9, as part of the Art Basel/Art Loves Design exhibitions. An opening reception will be held December 6, from 7 p.m. – midnight, at the exhibition space, located at the Newton Building NE 2d Avenue, 2nd Floor. Exhibition hours are Friday, December 7th, 9 a.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday, December 8th, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., with evening hours 7 – 11 p.m. in conjunction with Art Loves Design, and December 9th, Sunday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. 
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