In 2025, marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Europe, the Carte Blanche special exhibition Safari Notes opened on December 6. In 2025, marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Europe, the Carte Blanche special exhibition The Safari Journey, a group show featuring young artists from China and Europe, opened on December 6. The exhibition invites Ning Wen, Artistic Director of ARTnews Chinese edition, as curator. Centred on the theme of The Safari Journey, the exhibition focuses on seven emerging artists from China and Europe. The works on view span a variety of media, including painting, video, installation, and performance, together unfolding a multifaceted exploration of "the safari" and "the journey." The artists are both "hunters" in the contemporary cultural landscape and "chroniclers" of their own spiritual journeys.

Ning Wen, Curator

The word "safari" originally refers to an expedition, a hunt, or the great migration in Africa. This theme came to mind because in today’s cultural landscape, artists are both hunters and recorders of their own inner worlds. As you can see, the exhibition includes works in painting, photography, and installation. Despite the diversity of media, they collectively convey the courage of young artists to deconstruct the world and their wisdom in rebuilding it. To me, that is what art is about – an ongoing expedition that continuously generates meaning as it unfolds.

Unlike in the past, the rise of the internet and social media means that young contemporary artists move in lockstep with the world. Their artistic language is highly international, their sources of inspiration are more diverse, and as a result, their work presents a much richer and more pluralistic picture.