Seven Sins

Red Brick Art Museum Collection

© Wen Pulin Archive of Chinese Avant-Garde Art

Intro

On February 5, 1989, the National Art Museum of China held an exhibition of contemporary art; the emblem for the exhibition was their ‘No U-term’ design. The exhibition focused on the aims and achievements of the ’85 New Wave movement. Including in the exhibition were seven performance pieces, while some of these went by relatively quietly, two shots shocked the world. Almost thirty years later, the pride felt by today’s critics and artists in this exhibition, qualifies the importance and significance of the China/Avant-Grade exhibition and their ‘No U-turn’ motto. This film is a recording of the seven performances – known as the Seven Sins.