“Uncovering History: The Rockbund Art Museum’s ‘China Journal’ Exhibition”

Exploring History and Knowledge Production at the Rockbund Art Museum

The Rockbund Art Museum (RAM) in Shanghai is known for its unique location in a restored Art Deco building that has a rich history dating back to the 1930s. However, it wasn’t until recently that the museum openly addressed its connection to the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS), a British and American organization that played a significant role in colonial knowledge production and extraction. The museum’s three exhibitions, part of the “China Journal” series, curated by X Zhu-Nowell, delve into this history while also exploring themes of colonialism, identity, and personal narratives.

A Journey Through History and Identity

The exhibitions at RAM offer visitors a multidimensional experience, blurring the boundaries between art, history, and personal narratives. One of the exhibitions, “Mount Analogue,” by Shanghainese artist Hu Yun, serves as a mid-career survey of his work. Hu’s art is deeply intertwined with issues of colonialism and history, particularly related to the RAS. His works explore the lives of marginalized individuals, including Chinese laborers who were forced to work in Australia in the 19th century. Hu’s works highlight the personal nature of history and challenge the notion of a singular historical truth.

An Exhibition as a Palimpsest

The second exhibition, “Shanghai Palimpsest,” curated by Zhang Ruyi, transforms the former library of the RAS into a new library that tells the story of the organization through its members. The exhibition features individuals such as Florence Ayscough, a Shanghai-born librarian deeply engaged with the city’s cultural scene, and Wu Lien-teh, the first Asian member of RAS and a pioneering physician known for inventing the N95 mask. The inclusion of the Tang family, who served as taxidermists for the RAS, adds another layer to the exhibition, showcasing the interconnectedness of different eras and people within the museum’s space.

Peeling Back Layers of History

The exhibitions at RAM not only explore the historical context of the building but also actively engage with its physical space. Artist Lu Jie’s documentary, “History and Memory,” tells the story of the Tang family through their taxidermy birds, highlighting their connection to the museum’s past. Additionally, installations like “The Hollow-Men” and “Debris” evoke the former specimen cabinets of the RAS, while also erasing their original meaning and transforming them into poetic symbols of the past.

A Call to Reimagine Knowledge Production

The exhibitions at RAM, through their exploration of colonial history, personal narratives, and the construction of knowledge, raise important questions about how we understand and produce knowledge. The curatorial choices made by X Zhu-Nowell, as well as the artists involved, challenge the hegemonic thinking that has often shaped the art and museum industry. They offer alternative perspectives and narratives, emphasizing the importance of perspective in understanding history.

Predicted Future Trends and Recommendations

Given the current trends in the art and museum industry, it is likely that museums will continue to grapple with their historical contexts and seek to engage with diverse perspectives and narratives. The Rockbund Art Museum’s approach in confronting its past serves as an example for other institutions seeking to address their own histories and work towards decolonizing knowledge production. Museums should strive to create spaces that foster dialogue, encourage critical thinking, and challenge established narratives.

Conclusion

The exhibitions at the Rockbund Art Museum offer a thought-provoking exploration of history, colonialism, and knowledge production. Through their engagement with the museum’s past and their use of personal narratives, the exhibitions challenge traditional notions of history and provide alternative perspectives. By acknowledging and confronting its own history, RAM sets an example for other institutions in the art and museum industry, encouraging them to critically examine their own narratives and embrace diverse voices.