Peking University April 21, 2023: Born of approximately 500 pieces of student works on their family history, the "Fluens Autum Fluxus: Millennial Family History Exhibition" attempts to remember “Family.” Through the writing of personal family history accounts and the display of personal items as exhibits, history is made intimate – we are all knobs in the grand gear of time, but our individual stories matter. 
 

Exhibition Poster

The exhibition is also a dialogue between generations. Student writers interview their elders and hear, perhaps for the first time, the story of their lives as told by them. Perhaps in the mundane day-to-day, it is difficult to have such in-depth conversations. Writing one’s family history is hence significant – only in writing and recollecting, can we truly know and remember our family history as personal stories, and allow “where we come from” to elucidate “who we are.” 
 

Exhibition Space

 

Structural art on the first floor

Initiated by Professor Wang Hongzhe, curated by senior students Shen Tong and Ding Zhining with the help of Artistic Director Sun Xinyue and Technical Support Wang Ke, the exhibition will run until May 8, 2023, at the Archives of Contemporary Art in China (798 Art District). The exhibition space consists of two floors. On the first floor, one may find mostly physical exhibits, and on the second floor, one can experience the online exhibition space the team has built through the computers stationed. Read the family stories of 21 of our student writers from different areas in China and abroad, witness a visual representation of these stories through our online exhibition, and share your own personal stories by penning them down in the notebooks provided.

Highlights from the exhibition:
 

Offline exhibits

Online exhibition space

Screenshots from the online interactive exhibition

Members of the public penning their stories

*Note: Exhibition-related events are still ongoing, and will be published on the “北京大学严复班” WeChat official account.

Written by: Glenda Ho
Edited by: Dennis Meng
Photos by: Courtesy of the organizers