Melanie Wang, Independent Art Project Coordinator, shares some juicy gossip about China’s art scene
Interview by Joana Melo, photo by Judy Zhou

Melanie Wang describes herself as an outsider to the art world, but ever since this business major discovered her passion for modern art, she has been sinking deeper into the local art scene. What keeps her in it is not just the art, but the fact that she gets to meet new and interesting people every single day of her life, and that she never stops learning.

What does it mean to be an independent art project coordinator? Well, I do many things: I act as a middleman, or middlewoman, if you prefer, between the art world and the outside world. I build the bridge between the artists, collectors, buyers, and the media that are needed to promote a certain artist or gallery. I also perform research for auction houses, such as Christie’s, and help them interview both upcoming and established artists and collectors from all over the world. The auction house then uses this information to compile their catalogs and to present it to the public.

What do you think about the art scene in China today? Being an outsider has given me great insight into this. Compared to other art markets, like those in Europe and America, the Chinese one is like a baby. I think the actual business has only been around for ten years, and only began to boom in 2005. There is a lot of space for the Chinese art business to grow, but there are still rules to be set and to be followed; rules are needed in order to play the game, and currently we barely have any rules when it comes to art, so how can we play the game against other markets and between ourselves? Real professionals that care about art are rare these days. Most of them are going for the money.

What does contemporary art mean for you? For me, the artist must have a voice and scream for what is happening now and today! Art is the way artists find to show how they feel and what they think of themselves and others. The word “contemporary” is actually made of two parts: “con” and “temporary” and together these mean: with the times. No matter how “hot” the artist is now, and how much their works are selling for, only those who paint with their heart and mind, and only those who use brushes as weapons to fight for a better world and who scream for dignity, freedom, equality and justice can become the real heroes!

Given the fact that you float around the art scene in Beijing, are there any interesting stories you would like to share? There are many! At the Poly International’s Spring Auction in 2010, a calligraphy scroll from the Song Dynasty (920-1279) titled Di Zhu Ming was sold for the exorbitant amount of RMB 436.8 million after only 40 minutes of bidding! This is still placed as the highest price paid for a piece of art in the Chinese mainland art market. But paintings are not always real. Sometimes people get surprised. In June 2010 a painting called The Body of Miss Jiang Biwei painted by Xu Beihong (徐悲鸿), was sold at auction for RMB 72.8 million, but in September 2011, ten students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing wrote a letter claiming the work was theirs, and that it was of a woman from northern China. Not even the son of Xu Beihong could recognize his mother in the painting… And this is how we stand in Chinese art business nowadays. There are so many so-called “art experts” in China that it has gotten to a point where we can only rely on words against words. They are sometimes messing up the market with what fake accusations. The question is always: which is real and which is fake? The answer: The show is on!

From all of your experiences, which was the one that impacted you the most? I’d say it was Trevor Simon. Simon bought Yue Minjun’s Execution for USD 32,200 in 1995 and sold it 12 years later for USD 5.9 million, at Sotheby’s London. When I met him in Beijing, I asked him what his reason for choosing Execution was. I still remember how shameful I felt when he answered: “When people are almost naked, they have no dignity, but the ones in this painting are still smiling! I am not surprised what happened in the late 80’s, but I am impressed with the courage that Chinese people had to continue to live, after experiencing such a tragedy in history”. I believe it could not have been in better hands.

Do you have any message for young artists out there? Yes. Paint with your heart. Think of yourself like a child. You have got to have time to grow up and mature in your art. Think about what you are going to paint, see it in your mind, and then paint with your body, mind, and soul. Only when you can communicate with non-artists through your art you know that you have succeeded. But never give up on getting better and better and don’t think you will make much money out of your paintings in the beginning. You first have to establish yourself as an artist and, when the time is right, you will achieve your dreams.