Ou Ning

Ou Ning is a poet, writer, filmmaker, artist and curator whom uses art as a form of social activism. His openness of what art is, where it is "displayed" and who the audience is leads him to develop art show in unprecedented public spaces. One of his collaborative projects was to bring a traveling exhibition in shopping malls around China. These alternative venues allow new audiences, mainly youth to view art and to be able to experience it in open, free, fun settings that promote a reoccurring discussion about art interpretation.

Another of his upcoming projects, Agricultural Asia, seems formidable in both size and socio-economic ramifications. I find that this concept, which he plans to executes once he figures out how to finance it, is both inspiring and astounding. By buying land in rural China and collaborating with architects and other artists, he intends to start a movement to bring the youth back to their native villages. Currently,these villages are literally dying with the major economic boom in Beijing drawing the young people out, leaving the elderly. By documenting and planning for this kind of reverse exodus, it has the potential to change the economic conditions in these rural areas and revitalizing the lost communities.