The academic significance of curation lies not in the exhibition itself, but in the production of ideas and knowledge. This lecture revolves around three exhibitions curated by Professor Zhou Bo, discussing curation as a process of knowledge production.
Professor Zhou Bo used the exhibition "The Birth of New Chinese Design" as a case study to introduce the origin and curatorial approach of the exhibition. Additionally, he examined the significance of exhibitions as vehicles for knowledge production in the construction and dissemination of aesthetic concepts, drawing on his experience curating two editions of "The Spirit of Zhong: Contemporary Chinese Design and Craft Exhibition." These two editions centered on the core concepts of "Cultivation, Integrity, Elegance, Harmony" and "Vitality and Regeneration," respectively, highlighting the explorations of contemporary Chinese designers and artisans who embody the principle of being "new yet traditional, traditional yet new, and simultaneously traditional and new." The exhibitions sought to address the question of what constitutes the essence of Chinese aesthetic spirit through the medium of exhibitions, thereby fostering discourse within the design community regarding fundamental principles of Chinese design aesthetics and advancing the practice of contemporary art and design.
