Savor an art feast at 'Future Returns'

The “Future Returns” exhibition brings together some of the finest works in the 20th century, exploring the diverse array of movements and styles that emerged from the 1920s onwards, some of the most innovative periods of art history.

Featuring works by Salvador Dali, Juan Miro, Andy Warhol and Rene Magritte among others, it’s a true celebration of the breadth of creativity that has led these artists to be some of the most beloved in the world.

Visitors can admire 44 pioneering artists’ 140 works in five sections: “Surrealism,” “Abstract Expressionism,” “Pop Art,” “Conceptual Art” and “New Painting and Art From 1988 Onwards.” Many of the abstract paintings at the exhibition reflect the transformation from objective to subjective depictions in art history.

“La Danza” (1964) by Salvador Dali. Photos from the exhibition organizer

A 1978 painting by Juan Miro. 

In the “Surrealism” section, visitors can appreciate works by Magritte, Miro, Dali and Man Ray, to name a few. In the Surrealism cultural movement in the 1920s and 1930s, these significant contributors depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself.

“Suite Olympic Centennial” (1992) by Zao Wou-ki.

In the “Abstract Expressionism” part showcasing works by Hans Hartung, Antoni Tapies and Xiao Qin, visitors can sense many different painting styles varying in both technique and quality of expression. Paintings in this movement from the 1940s to the 1960s emphasize free, spontaneous and personal emotional expression. They show similar emphasis on the unstudied and intuitive application of paint in a form of psychic improvisation akin to the automatism of the Surrealists.

A 1991 artwork by Roy Lichtenstein.

“Sesame Street Break Dancer” (1990) by Keith Haring.

Entering the colorful “Pop Art” section, works by Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring show a diverse response to commodity-driven values. The movement in the 1950s and 1960s presented a challenge to traditions of fine art by including imagery from popular and mass culture, such as advertising, comic books and mass-produced objects. One of its aims is to emphasize the banal or kitschy elements of any culture, most often through the use of irony. Although the public did not initially take it seriously, by the end of the 20th century, it had become one of the most recognized and appreciated art movements.

In the “Conceptual Art” sections, avant-garde productions involving concepts or ideas take precedence over artworks with traditional aesthetic, technical and material concerns. Works by Nam June Paik, John Cage or Joseph Beuys at the exhibition prompt you to rethink your ideas of what art is.

“Henry at the Table” (1976) by David Hockney.

In the final section showing works in recent decades, visitors can see more possibilities in art presented by familiar artists such as Damien Hirst, David Hockney, Julio Larraz, Cindy Sherman, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Takashi Murakami.

Dates: Until Dec. 31

Hours: 1-9 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.), 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (Sat.-Sun.)

Tickets: 98-108 yuan

Venue: ARTECHALL, Cloud Park, Longgang District (龙岗区天安云谷科技艺术展览馆)

Metro: Line 10 to Gangtou Station (岗头站), Exit C2