Qiuzhuang Project – A Dispersed Museum Project by artist Li Mu

This has been an ongoing project between the Van Abbemuseum and Arthub Asia since February 2013.

How can a museum connect with the reality of a village in the middle of the Chinese countryside?

During his residency at the Vanabbe Museum in 2011 artist Li Mu wanted to share the direct experience of modern and contemporary art with his family and friends in his remote village in Hunan province, as a way of connecting the villagers with an important part of his life and art.

Carpenters, workers and his family will take part in this yearlong encounter: they will re-create part of the Van abbemuseum collection in China, displaying it in Li Mu’s village.

Arthub Asia is proud of this initiative and is working with Li Mu to make it happen.

For the press release please check here.

For a daily update of the project please check Li Mu’s project here.

A library project

In order to make the project living after the exhibition, Li Mu will set up a library in the village to explore a possible interactive relationship between the art and the villagers. The library will be made by an abandoned bus filled with art books, placed in Li Mu’s home on the space just outside the gate of his house. This is how Li Mu describes what he would like the library to look like:

“A library” like a life, that continues to grow and change. It may be small, as small as only one hundred books, but maybe it will grow bigger.

“A library” free for all, open on every Saturday and Sunday. Retired elementary school teacher Wei Yiming will be employed as librarian, responsible for the library opening and maintenance.

“A library” which holds regular workshops for kids and adults alike.

“A library” as a place for artistic and cultural talks for villagers.

“A library” used for films and documentaries.

The Library project was originally presented as part of the archive exhibition, Institution for the Future curated by Biljana Ciric.