One of the difficulties encountered by Art in the present times of turmoil is how to define itself. When we look back at the concept of “contemporary”, it points clearly to a question of time rather than to an intrinsic significance. In what kind of contemporary times do we live? They are constantly changing, not giving us a moment of respite; they are hustling and bustling, all voices are drowned in a torrent of noises; they are times of exaggerations and larks, and any imagination is blurred and distorted... and Art cannot escape the constraints of its epoch. These times are a blessing - every artist has a chance to become famous every quarter of an hour - and they are also a curse - no work can expect the viewers to stop before it for at least five minutes. Dialogue Space Gallery was born in an era in which Art is driven by commercial forces, yet our raison d’être can’t possibly just limit itself to commercial purposes. Our aim is precisely to create a real heartfelt link between the works and the viewers, and to let the inner strength and emotions of the artists, from the beginning of the creative process up to its completion, appear before the eyes of everyone. This is perhaps where the charm of art works moving people hearts lies.

This charm, it is Chen Zhiguang using his arrangements and lineup of ants to represent the comedy of the ordinary man of the street; it is Guan Wei with his concise humorous language who helps us distinguish our common humanity; it is Li Jikai’s mood with his disillusioned memory and imagination; it is the carefree Ma Dan’s happiness on the high plateau of Yunnan; it is the lost beauties of yore faded away by time, finding a new youth under the finest brush of Ma Yanling; it is Mao Xuhui who reveals from our daily lives the relationship between structure and power; it is Peng Wei who represents with his traditional style the women of ancient times in their peaceful and leisurely attitude; it is Qi Zhilong who blurrs the harshness of the present times to radiate anew the warmth of glory; it is Ru Xiafan projecting upon gorgeous flowers the erosion of human hearts brought about by consumerism; it is Shen Ling who shows with bold colors the happiness of people’s life; it is Xu Zhongmin who shows an eternal commitment through his technical and scientific immobility and equilibrium; it is Ye Yongqing practicing day after day to paint with subtle strokes the images of traditional scholars; it is Yu Fan looking for the long lost child innocence with a search of concise and refined forms; it is Zhang Qikai creating cultural confrontations by mixing Eastern and Western “instruments”; not just anybody can define the essence of Art, but anyone of us can experience the emotions that At brings about. Nobody can resist the torrents of time, but everyone can enjoy the quietness created by Art. Perhaps we should, like artists, listen to the call of our hearts, experience life and reflect upon it, in complete silence and vacuum. This is something that Dialogue Space Gallery, since its inception four years ago, has been trying to do. We cannot make life decisions for you, but we can provide you with a place where you can rest your soul. Heartfelt thanks to our friends who have been supporting Dialogue Space Gallery, you are the source of our courage and motivation to carry on.