Abstract

The Central Academy of Fine Art is the most important art institution in China. The exhibition was in the form of a survey show covering about twenty years of Esson’s drawing practice and the evolution of visual narratives during this time. The Australian Cultural Attaché in Beijing, John Kelly, opened the exhibition. Dong Hua University was originally a textile university but has transformed since 1951 into a leading Design and Fashion University in Shanghai. The university campus in central Shanghai houses an important gallery, which exhibits the work of international fine artists and designers. The exhibition was opened by Li Keling the Dean of the Art and Design Fashion Institute. The works in the two exhibitions were fundamentally the same, although there were variations and different emphasis, which corresponded to the two different exhibition titles. This was Esson’s first major solo exhibition in China and although a survey show, it also concentrated on the cultural influences that have informed his work since 2000. Regular visits in China provided a rich vein of philosophical and visual material to be examined and new metaphors invented. Exhibiting the work at the source of the influence created important responses and fostered fresh challenges for future re-investigation. Each exhibition was accompanied by a series of lectures offering keen debate and critical appraisal. A 32 page catalogue was produced for the two exhibitions titled ‘Imagine My Heart Was Yours: Michael Esson Drawing 1996 – 2005’ , with essay by Alan Krell, and published with assistance from the University of New South Wales, Asia.