Zhongnai - Exhibitions in Groningen / 在 Groningen 游逛的日子

Exhibitions in Groningen / 在 Groningen 游逛的日子

After the exhibition in Hoorn, I took photos of my works and made a thick photo album with them together with a brief self-introduction as well as some relative information.

In the spare time after creation, I often went to the biggest city in the northern part of Holland named Groningen. It is a city full of young people. There are many cultural and art schools and institutions there. And there are many galleries and museums as well. At first I just took around in those galleries and museums where a lot of expressionist paintings were saved and displayed. Later I simply carried my backpack and my photo album, and with a few slices of bread and a bottle of water in bag, I started to search for the galleries and museums that might be suitable for my works.

The first few galleries and museums tactfully rejected me for they were not sure if they could make money with my works as I am a foreigner there. For me that was quite understandable, as after all these galleries and museums were operated in a commercial way. However, the Dutch people were quite friendly. Although they were not really interested in your works or thought your works might not be suitable for display in their galleries, they still showed their great enthusiasm to your works and curiously asked about your background ,your education and something about your creation.

Wandering without results for sometime, I began to feel a bit discouraged. I did not know where to find a way to go, or better say where to find a door so as to let me squeeze in.

On a rare sunny day, I walked into a gallery. Although there were still no results, I got some information. An old man suggested me to visit the art center in Groningen, which was a municipal arts agency. The center often organized exhibitions for young artists and there existed no commercial operation .

A Dutch woman of about my age received me there. She was responsible for painting exhibition auditing, looked pretty, but a bit stuttering….After looking at the photo album of my works, she asked me directly if I could arrange an exhibition two months later. And then after, with her help, I began to hold a series of exhibitions in Groningen.

Exhibition in Kunstencentrum Groningen 2001