WHAT
The exhibition at the gallery’s virtual exhibition space at SPXR Metaverse and on Decentraland was conceived and developed by Nicole Schoeni, the daughter of the late Manfred Ludwig Schoeni (1946 – 2004), a pioneer and great advocate for the Chinese contemporary art movement. The exhibition will be permanently housed in a metaverse which enables viewers and researchers from all over the world to gain access to the exhibition, including over 80 Schoeni Art Gallery art publications in digital format with supporting materials, exhibition photos, newspaper clippings and more. The emphasis is placed on Manfred Schoeni’s relentless dedication to bringing Chinese contemporary art to international audiences over the span of twelve years (1992–2004).

Link: https://schoeniprojects.com/spxr/

WHY
Curated by Dr Martha Liew, the exhibition explores eight sub-themes that define the collection:
– Early Years: Journey to the East
– Everyday Life Under the Reform
– Constructing Social Reality
– Making the Invisible Visible: Art and Politics
– A New Milestone: 8 + 8 – 1
– The New Romantics
– Family & Love
– the Other Side of the Collection

In the words of Dr. Liew, who adopted a different approach in presenting the art collection:
“I don’t see how the viewer can engage with the collection when Manfred’s story is told chronologically or marked by major movements in Chinese contemporary art. I want the audience to get to know him and his collection by highlighting key aspects of his art journey: the curiosity, the passion, the success, and in some aspects, his mischiefs. I want his story to be told truthfully, but also creatively.”