Exhibition will also be occasion for national conference at UC Davis

The exhibition, titled Visualizing Revolution: Propaganda Posters from the People’s Republic of China, 1949-1989, will contain 78 prints and original artworks from the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center. The exhibition will run from April 3rd, 2008, through May 18th, 2008, with a public reception on Thursday April 10th, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, at the Nelson Gallery, Room 124 of the Art Building on campus.

The exhibition has been guest curated by Professor Katharine Burnett of the UC Davis Art History faculty, along with Mr. Yang Peiming of Shanghai, China, owner of the collection. “As a historian of art, it becomes ever more imperative to me to help people understand Chinese culture generally and this important period of China's history in particular,” says Professor Burnett.

The bulk of the objects will be poster art, but also included will be some big character posters (dazibao), original paintings, paper cuts, woodblock prints, and political documents relating to the posters. Using Socialist Realism art styles, the artworks excoriate enemies of the revolution like the United States and the Gang of Four, and celebrate supporters, such as Fidel Castro and Albanian representatives in China.

Professor Burnett has also organized a national conference on the work scheduled for Saturday April 12th, also at the Nelson. Speakers will include: Judy Andrews, Ohio State University; Chen Xiaomei, UC Davis; Ellen Johnston Laing, University of Michigan; Shen Kuiyi, UC San Diego; Sheldon Lu, UC Davis; Lindsay Riordan, UC Davis; Yang Peiming, owner and Director, Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre. In addition, discussants will include Don Price, UC Davis; Blake Stimson, UC Davis; and Richard Vinograd, Stanford University. Admission is free and open to the public.

For digital images or further information contact Katrina Wong at kliwong@ucdavis.edu