Changing Art Culture in a Developing Beijing

With the increase in free-market development throughout China, cities in the past 20-25 years have grown in size and population at an unprecedented rate. This project examines the role of students at Beijing?s Central Academy of Fine Arts in the growth and creation of this sprawling international city. How are these young people taught to see the world? And how does their coming of age differ from a previous generation of artists who challenged the government and the status quo? From interviews with art and design students, professors, and professional studio artists, and by living with students for two months, I will approach and document a possible answer to these questions. My open hypothesis is that today\u27s college-age artists are oriented towards achieving success over having political and social impact, an orientation which is more deeply embedded now that China has a burgeoning capitalist economy