We organised the panel discussion Negotiating the Identity of Contemporary Chinese Art jointly with Ernst & Young Far East Network, London 2014.

The auction of the painting Last Supper by Chinese contemporary artist Zeng Fanzhi at Sotheby’s in 2013 set a new record price for a work by an Asian contemporary artist. This has once again generated the debate and questioning on the power dynamics behind contemporary Chinese art, which happened in 2006 when Chinese contemporary art was suddenly discovered by the international art scene (e.g. Zhang Xiaogang’s RMB5m sales record of his work Big Family at Sotheby’s in 2006).

EY Far East Network and ARTouch Consulting invited four panellists comprising UK-based contemporary Chinese artists Sheng Qi and Guo Le, Marko Daniel, Convenor and Curator from Tate; Katie Hill, Director of Office of Contemporary Chinese Art, to explore three key questions relating to the identity of contemporary Chinese art and its role within the international art market:

• What’s the meaning of ‘Chinese’ in the context? How has the identity of contemporary Chinese art evolved through past years?

• What is the role of global capital and western institution in shaping the identity and value of contemporary Chinese art?

• Looking forward, what trends will define contemporary Chinese art market over coming years?

The moderator was Lang Xiao, ARTouch Consulting, and Harry Queenborough, EY Far East Network.