Abstract

‘International Contemporary Drawing Art’ was one of the early initiatives of the International Drawing Research Institute, reported to be the largest contemporary drawing exhibition ever in mainland China. The exhibition brought together artists from Australia, UK and China. The 152 page catalogue International Contemporary Drawing Art, ISBN 7-80690-133-7/J 10311 illustrates the works from each artist, with an introduction by Fan Di An, the most respected art theorist and curator in China. The exhibition includes drawings from the most significant contemporary artists in China. To be part of the organizational structure behind the exhibition, together with being included in this exhibition offered a unique opportunity to participate in an exhibition, viewed by thousands of visitors. Esson’s work was subsequently was used in a Chinese drawing reference book ‘Configuration and Intention’ by A. Yu, published by Liaoning Art Publishing, Shenyang 2005. The Australian contributors were selected by Dr Peter Hill, artist and former editor of Alba magazine. The exhibition was the inaugural exhibition at the new Xian Academy of Fine Art Gallery, and was organized in relation to the International Drawing Art Conference at which I presented a paper - ‘The Private and Public Face of Drawing’ October 24/25. As an extension of this cross-cultural drawing event, Esson I worked with Ian Howard, (Australian artist), Wang Xu, (Chinese artist), and Xin Jun Qin (Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Officer and artist) on an artist’s army drawing project over three days, which was included in the International Contemporary Art exhibition as ‘From The Soil They Come’.