On 6 May 2024, Dr. Jiang Jun presented the curatorial concept of the China Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale in his lecture “Physical Loss and Digital Reclamation – The Curatorial Concept of the China Pavilion at the Venice Biennale”. At the China Pavilion, digital access is provided to ancient Chinese paintings which would otherwise be lost for the public. According to Dr. Jiang Jun, the aim in designing the pavilion was to synthesise traditional and modern Chinese art and foreign influences on it. Dr. Jiang Jun also placed the concept against the background of German-speaking philosophy of the 20th century and referred to ideas of Jürgen Habermas and Ludwig Wittgenstein. He described contemporary Chinese culture as being influenced by conservative as well as liberal and communist theoretical impulses. In the follow-up discussion, the combinability of these three aspects was critically examined.

Dr. Jiang Jun is curator, art critic and postdoctoral fellow at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, and co-curator of the China Pavilion of the 60th Biennale di Venezia.