The Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy is delighted to present Made in Britain: Contemporary Art from the British Council Collection 1980 – 2010. This touring exhibition of contemporary British art has been created in partnership with the Sichuan Museum, Xi’an Art Museum, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, and Suzhou Museum.  

Location and dates:
Sichuan Provincial Museum: 18 December 2010 – 20 February 2011
Xi’an Art Museum: 6 March to 10 April 2011
Hong Kong Heritage Museum: 30 June to 9 October 2011
Suzhou Museum: 1 November 2011 to 8 January 2012

This exhibition has been specially selected from the British Council Collection, one of the most comprehensive holdings of modern and contemporary British art in the world, containing some 8500 art works by over 1650 British artists. ‘Made in Britain’ builds on the concept of the recently shown ‘The Future Demands Your Participation’ which took place at Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai early in 2010 as part of the UK’s programme of cultural events for Shanghai Expo. Made in Britain aims to bring British art and the British Council Collection to a new audience, and ensure that the legacy of the UK’s participation in Shanghai Expo is shared by audiences across China.

Within the thirty year period which this exhibition covers, enormous shifts have taken place in the role which art plays within British society. From Gilbert & George’s Intellectual Depression of 1980 to Gary Hume’s Sister Troop, this exhibition tells the story of how art has mapped and reflected these changes – and indeed been at the very forefront of social change itself.  Contemporary art in the UK has undeniably taken on a more socially engaged position in British society over the past three decades. Some of this shift can be attributed to the arrival of a new, entrepreneurial and ambitious generation of artists in the early 1990s, collectively known as the YBA’s (short for Young British Artists) and including artists such as Michael Landy, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, and Gillian Wearing.

A comprehensive programme of educational activities and events will run throughout the exhibition period, including arts cafe, green arts, artist talks, campus lecture, kids and youth programme. For further information please refer to www.britishcouncil.org.cn