The development of contemporary art museums in China: a general framework

This article aims to offer a diachronic description of the evolution of the art museum system in China after Deng Xiaoping’s reform launched in 1978, by highlighting key historical facts which led to the proliferation and development of the sector. It focuses on the development of the Chinese art museum system as a whole and takes into account the parallel development of the privately owned and the state-owned art museum. I argue that this growth, which has been labelled “museumification” was fostered by two forces: the government’s new political agenda and the development of private collections. My aim is to analyse how they interact. I will also highlight how this reflects on the way contemporary Chinese art is collected and exhibited.