近一个世纪以来中国政治、经济、文化的动荡与变革可谓史无前例！中国社会从帝制的消亡到被世界列强武力半殖民，最后以毛泽东领导的共产主义革命结束内战重新创建一个统一、独立的人民共和国。
1949年至1976年间，在毛泽东领导下的中国试图建立乌托邦的共产主义理想国。政治高于一切！艺术创作则沦为政治服务的工具。讴歌时代的“社会主义现实主义”是艺术创作的主流和唯一标准。
毛时代以后，中国的改革、开放加速了整个中国社会的现代化进程。中国艺术家们开始了相对自由的艺术实践。质疑主流和经典；尝试各种现代主义的美术运动……随着全球化浪潮的不断冲击，中国当代艺术随同中国社会现实、人文语境的不断变化而发展。各种新观念、新思想、新技术、新材料得以融合并实践。中国当代艺术家在追求自由表达、呈现内心体验、关注生存状态、寻找新的身份……以自己独特的视角判断，在世界艺术舞台上掀起波澜。中国当代艺术已成为世界当代艺术发展中一股强大而独特的力量；是中国现代文明的结晶！
本次展览汇聚了36位极具代表性的中国三代优秀艺术家近40件作品。涵盖油画、雕塑、摄影、录像、装置等艺术表现形式。这是第一次也是第一个在拉美及古巴地区的中国当代艺术家群展。
在这里我要首先感谢古巴国家美术馆馆长姆海玛•克拉维罗•克罗姆（Moraima Clavijo Colom）女士。她以职业的敏感、勇气及不懈的坚持、信任，推动本展览的实现。同时感谢古巴及中国文化部相关各部门的理解、协调支持；古巴驻华使馆、中国驻古巴使馆的积极关心、配合；所有参展艺术家的信赖。感谢所有为本展览付出心血及提供赞助的机构及个人。
策展人：程昕东
2009年10月
Foreword
For almost a century, the turmoil and reform in China’s political, economic and cultural field was unprecedented. China moved from the end of imperialism to being forcefully semi-colonized by the world’s leading powers. After the Communist revolution under Mao Zedong had ended the Civil War, the country finally became a unified and independent people’s republic.
Between 1949 and 1976, and under the leadership of Mao Zedong, China attempted to form a utopian communist state. Politics was placed above everything else! Artistic creation was reduced to a political tool. The “Socialist-Realism” that celebrated the times also became the mainstream of – and the only standard for – artistic creation.
After the Maoist era, the opening and reform accelerated the modernization of all Chinese society. Chinese artists began a relatively free artistic practice. They questioned the mainstream and the classics alike: they experimented with all types of modernist art movements…as globalization strengthened its influence, Chinese contemporary art developed alongside changing social realities and literary contexts. Various new concepts, new ideas, new technologies and new materials were able to integrate and be set into practice. Chinese contemporary artists pursued free expression, displayed inner experiences, grew concerned with living conditions, and looked for a new identity…they made judgments based on their own unique perspectives, and made waves on the world’s artistic stage. Chinese contemporary art has become a strong and unique force in the development of the contemporary art world. It serves as the crystallization of Chinese contemporary culture.
The current exhibition includes nearly forty works by thirty-six highly representative, and outstanding, Chinese contemporary artists. The forms of their artistic expression include oil painting, sculpture, photography, video and installation. This is the first time a group show of Chinese contemporary artists has ever been held in Cuba and Latin America.
First I would like to thank Moraima Clavijo Colom, the Director of the Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba. Her professional sensibility, courage, insistence and trust greatly contributed to the realization of this show. I would also like to thank the cultural ministries of both Cuba and China, and other related departments, for their understanding, coordination and support. I would like to express my gratitude to the Cuban Embassy in China, and the Chinese Embassy in Cuba, for their help and cooperation, as well as all the participating artists, for their trust. Finally, I would like to thank all organizations and individuals who provided funding or support for the exhibition.
Curator: Cheng Xindong
October 2009
【编辑：霍春常】
