Launching a New Era: Body and Language as Manifesto

Joseph Kosuth is part of Launching a New Era: Body and Language as Manifesto, on view at the Yuan Art Museum, Beijing, China

At the present, the body and language continue to play significant roles in contemporary art.
In the traditional "dualism" narrative, these two elements were seen as opposing and contradictory. However, since the early 20th century, with the emergence of new ideologies and avant-garde art movements, the relationship between body and language has become more complex. They are no longer strictly defined or in opposition to each other. Instead, they collide, transform, and integrate with one another, giving rise to various forms of expression, interpretation, and declaration that possess immense potential energy.

After almost a year of preparation, the Yuan Art Museum is ready to be officially opening.
The name "Yuan" signifies a moment of unease between the old and the new, symbolizing the dawn of a new era and a new order. In light of this, we aim to reaffirm the classical propositions of body and language (either separately or as a unified entity) by leveraging the museum's distinctive spatial characteristics and cultural orientation.

The Museum will invite 30 groups of artists from both domestic and international backgrounds to collaboratively compose a symphony that encapsulates the spirit of this new era.