Artists are travelers, for sure in the mind and often physically as well. Some travel looking for opportunities to produce work, others just because the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Some are inspired by a strong curiosity about the past and present of a specific location, others because it’s difficult to attach to one place and get rooted; they have a nomadic need to be on the move. Some travel to be alone among others, others because they cherish their friendships and want to meet again or work together, lovingly.

It is widely known from sociological research that the most valuable and useful information about ‘reality’ is retrieved from people entering a new situation – full of insecurity and surprise – or leaving one with a reflective and widened outlook.

Artists are good informants, they trace and debunk meanings that were not clear before. And they return meaning in their work. In fact artists – the real ones – are always explorers wherever they go.

Ever since 2000, the Chinese European Art Center (CEAC) in Xiamen – with its Chinese-Dutch team around key figure Ineke Gudmundsson – has accommodated artists who produce work that for practical or financial reasons could not properly be produced elsewhere, artists investigating the history and present of Xiamen and other places in China. Artists who want to meet old friends or simply survive by keeping on the move. By enabling them to meet and exchange with invited artists from all across the globe, the CEAC stimulates Chinese artists to ‘travel in the mind’. And supports them by making their plans come true in several manners, helping them find their way in the international art world.

At the ROLLING SNOWBALL 2 exhibition in (exhibition location) in Quanzhou, seaport for warriors and merchants like Marco Polo on the Silk Road, with an impressive history, meaningful art is presented by the CEAC. Works of over forty exploring artists from fourteen countries. A broad and highly varied window on artists from China and the rest of the world.

Prof. Janwillem Schrofer, Chairman of the support foundation for the CEAC. Former President of the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam.

April 26, 2011, Heemstede (NL)

The Selected Artists
Ronny Delrue,Amy Wong,Lely Graham,Chen Wenling,Niu Hong Wen,Huang Yan,
Ma Wen,Zhifei Yang,Kan Xuan,Qin Jian,Tim Chen,Gu Ye,Meiya Lin,Weina,
Xu Huijing,Yang Jian,Iva Supic,Klitsa Antoniou,Bjorn Norgaard,Andrew Burton,
Nick Renshaw,William Aitchison,Albert Delamour,Sigurdur Gudmundsson,
Kristjan Gudmundsson,Ragna Robertdottir,Helena Hans,The Icelandic love Co-operation,
Chloe Morison,Stevens Vaughn,Colette Hosmer,Danielle van Vree,Bas Princen,
Guido Vlottes,Sema Bekirovic,Persijn Broerse & Margit Luckas,Minique Verhoexks,
Irina Birger,Bard Breivik,Arvid Petterson,Per Hutner,Lone Larsen.

Curators
Ineke Gudmundsson, May Lee
Organisation
CEAC, Xiamen.
Co-organiser
Redtory Art + Design Factory, Guangzhou.

This exhibition was made possible with the support of the Netherlands Consulate
General in Guangzhou, EMBASSY OF ICELAND IN BEIJING, Quanzhou Government,
Fengze District Government and Live Show Wonderland, the Pauwhoffonds/
Overvoorde-Gordonstichting and the Chinese European Art Center.

Opening words by:
Mrs. Ineke Gudmundsson and Ms. May Lee, Directors of CEAC
Ms. Kristín Aðalbjörg Árnadóttir, Ambassador from Iceland, Beijing
Many participating artists will be present at the opening.

Gallery