Late last year, I had the privilege of visiting Hangzhou, China, as a guest of By Art Matters, an amazing museum that opened in 2021. The museum is located in a spacious area designed by Renzo Piano, and throughout several floors and two buildings, it takes a new approach to maintenance, both in the topics that are organized in the way that the exhibitions deal with. Located just an hour by train from Shanghai, it’s a must-visit for anyone traveling in the region. At least part of its success can be attributed to the work of curator Francesco Bonami, who serves as its director. I caught up with Bonami in Shanghai to learn more about how this one-of-a-kind facility came to be.
Personally, you told me a little bit about how you found out about Art Matters through your friend Renzo Piano, who designed the complex in Hangzhou. I would like to hear more about these early stages. How did institutional ethics develop?
My friendship with Renzo Piano began with a book, Dopo tutto non è brutto (After All, It’s Not Ugly)which included a chapter in one of his buildings. That text amused him enough to contact him, and a sincere connection followed. When Lilin later asked Renzo to design the Ooeli campus, he also asked if he knew anyone who could help with the art space that would become Art Matters.
The name was proposed as an abbreviation of “way, art is important.” Even without a specific meaning, it conveyed an important message: a place where creativity is always more important than the techniques built around it. That principle reflects Lilin’s philosophy, which was fully shared from the beginning.
During an early visit to Hangzhou, this place was a tent with roaming chickens. Renzo quickly grasped the position of space and power and, during lunch, sketched the concept with his blue Pentel marker. That was in 2014, and the central idea of that painting is still evident today in the way millions of visitors walk through campus each year. Credit goes to Renzo for a vision that goes beyond architectural “hardware” to long-term local knowledge.
When I had the pleasure of visiting Hangzhou, By Art Matters had just opened a new retrospective showing the work of Inga Svala Thorsdottir & Wu Shanzhuan. I also entered a previously opened exhibition that included clothes from all of Martin Margiela’s collections. How do these various exhibitions reflect the vision of By Art Matters?
By Art Matters maintains a deliberately flexible approach to editing. There is an avoidance of following the conventional techniques of the art world—partly out of conviction, partly out of a desire for a more direct, innovative and nonchalant attitude. Projects are considered individually, and decisions are made based on what makes the most sense at a given time rather than on external expectations or standing.
What are some of your favorite projects you’ve done with By Art Matters, and why?
The first show, “A Show About Nothing,” was particularly successful. Other highlights include “Mind the Gap,” a long-distance conversation between Li Ming and Darren Bader, and “360 Degrees Painting.”
He has organized world-class exhibitions. How do you try to balance the specifics of the area by creating an exhibition that will resonate with someone in the international art world? How is that reflected in By Art Matters?
Finding that balance is still a challenge, as audiences vary greatly in every situation. Considerations that sound natural to a Western observer may not be obvious to younger observers or local groups. Working with those spaces—often by questioning what is taken for granted—has been an ongoing and educational process at By Art Matters.
You are known for sharing information about the wider art world on your Instagram. Can you talk about some trends you’ve noticed in recent years, that you admire or dislike?
Following or reacting to trends is dangerous, because by the time it is done, it is often too late. Instinct—one’s own or that of a trusted partner—is paramount, as is the willingness to risk mistakes rather than rush them.
If you had to give advice to a young artist starting out today, what would it be?
Work towards success, but always be a worker of your own ideas rather than the ideas of others.
What have you learned about the Chinese audience during your time working with By Art Matters?
The most prominent quality is openness and flexibility of mind. Growing up in a Western environment often meant asking “why?” over and over again, with long delays before the project comes to fruition, if at all. In China, the answer is often “why?” followed by a quick realization—sometimes almost too fast!
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