Exploration and Analysis of the Contemporary Chinese Art Activism as an Intervention in Urbanization

Rui Zhou

2025

Abstract

China’s rapid urbanization and market-oriented reforms resulted in localized socio-political issues while redefining the image of world power. The ideological shift during the social transformation creates an experimental era for art interventions and cultural practices. This article maintains that artistic production serves as a means to understand, interact, and critique the transformation of urban spaces, contributing to responding and addressing the challenges suffered by citizens and the nation. Focusing on the perspectives of common people, socio-economic and physical geographies inequality, and nation branding during the urban revolution, this article examines the expressions of artistic activism in China reflect on the issues arising from urban space development. Adopting phenomenological approach and action research methods, it considers artworks as manifestations and mediums for the narratives of residents and social discourse identities, thereby interpreting the potential of cultural strategies as form of deconstructing contemporary urban issues in China amidst social and environmental change.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Zhou R. (2025). Exploration and Analysis of the Contemporary Chinese Art Activism as an Intervention in Urbanization. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development - Volume 1: IESD; ISBN 978-989-758-779-5, SciTePress, pages 35-40. DOI: 10.5220/0013962400004912

in Bibtex Style

@conference{iesd25,
author={Rui Zhou},
title={Exploration and Analysis of the Contemporary Chinese Art Activism as an Intervention in Urbanization},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development - Volume 1: IESD},
year={2025},
pages={35-40},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013962400004912},
isbn={978-989-758-779-5},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development - Volume 1: IESD
TI - Exploration and Analysis of the Contemporary Chinese Art Activism as an Intervention in Urbanization
SN - 978-989-758-779-5
AU - Zhou R.
PY - 2025
SP - 35
EP - 40
DO - 10.5220/0013962400004912
PB - SciTePress