John Tancock, an expert on Chinese contemporary art, discusses RongRong & inri’s work. This is followed by a conversation between the artists and Tancock which further explores their motivations and practice.
[Speaker]
RongRong & inri
John L. Tancock – advisor to Chambers Fine Art, New York and Beijing/freelance curator
[Venue]
Ryosokuin (Kenninji temple) >Exhibition information
[Fee]
Free
[Program name for reservation]
In Conversation with RongRong, inri & Dr. John L. Tancock
RongRong, inri
RongRong was born in 1968, in Zhangzhou city, Fujian Province, China, while Inri was born in 1973, in Kanagawa prefecture. They live in Kyoto and Beijing. RongRong & inri have been working together since 2000. Their works reflect the intimate world that they have created together, while pushing the boundaries of traditional black-and-white darkroom techniques. Their past critically acclaimed series of works, such as “Mt. Fuji,” “In Nature,” and “Liulitun,” focus on the beauty of the human body in nature and the urban environment.
In 2007, RongRong & inri established the Three Shadows Photography Art Centre in the Caochangdi art district of Beijing, the premier platform for international communication. They also started the annual Three Shadows Photography Award to discover and encourage China’s most promising photographers. RongRong and inri’s recent work brings attention to the beauty and value of new beginnings in their shared life and surroundings, especially amidst a rapidly changing world.
Dr. Tancock
John L. Tancock was born in London and was educated at Downing College, Cambridge and the Courtauld Institute, University of London. From 1967 to 1972 he was Associate Curator in the department of Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Art and Curator of the Rodin Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art. He received his Ph.D. from the Courtauld Institute for “The Sculpture of Auguste Rodin” in 1977. From 1972 to 2008 he was employed by Sotheby’s in New York, as Director of Contemporary Art from 1972 to 1977, Director of the department of Impressionist and Modern Painting from 1977 to 1993, President of Sotheby’s Japan from 1993 to 1995 and in 2005-2006.