The China Moment

Research exhibition by the documenta Institut
Opening: Friday, January 23, 2026

This exhibition reflects on the period of new departures in contemporary Chinese art. China’s opening up to the world at the end of the last century and the end of the golden age of globalization were captured here in countless works of art. The documenta Institut addresses this “China moment” in a research exhibition, bringing together works of art and archival materials from the 1980s to the present day. The focus here is on how artists negotiated their artistic position between the state, the public, and personal experience at a time of change and developed their individual forms of expression. The exhibition reveals the longings and contradictions marking this period and invites visitors to discover a formative moment that continues to resonate to this day.