THE FUTURE DEMANDS YOUR PARTICIPATION

As a major event of British participation in the 2010 Shanghai Expo, the British Council will work in collaboration with the Shanghai International Culture Association and the Minsheng Art Museum in exhibiting 90 art works of contemporary British art by 39 established artists in China. With the title The Future Demands Your Participation: Contemporary Art from the British Council Collection, the exhibition of the best pieces of contemporary British art will be held in the Minsheng Art Museum in Shanghai from January to March 2010 with later tours to other cities in China.

As one of the most well-known prizes, the Turner Prize has encouraged many contemporary British artists with outstanding artistic achievements. Among the 39 artists participating in this exhibition, there are 11 Turner Prize winners and 22 Turner Prize nominees including Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor, Mona Hatoum and Steve McQueen, which will make this exhibition an extravagant feast of contemporary British art.

Andrea Rose, Director of Visual Arts in British Council, said, “these art works are as valuable as Rolls-Royce cars, and like multi-purpose off-road vehicles, they carry the achievements of British art to different places in the world. Visual art has been flourishing in Britain after the Second World War and there has been a passionate need of seeing these art works around the world. Thanks to the British Council Collection, we are able to present the British innovative ideas and achievements to the world in the fastest and best way.”