Hear celebrated author, translator and essayist, Linda Jaivin discuss how China, in particular the city of Beijing, has inspired much of her work, including her three most recent books: the non-fiction 'Beijing', the novel 'The Empress Lover' and 'The Quarterly Essay: Found in Translation'. Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 22 May 2014. Presented in partnership with the 2014 Sydney Writer's Festival.

Focus on China

Linda Jaivin on China

Rob Schmitz, Shanghai correspondent for NPR and author of 'Street of Eternal Happiness', in conversation with Gene Sherman. Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 27 May 2017, in association with the 2017 Sydney Writers' Festival.

Rob Schmitz in conversation with Gene Sherman

Nicholas Jose shares from his 2014 publication, Bapo – a collection of short stories inspired by events, people and personal experience during his decades of involvement in China. Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 18 June 2015, in association with SCAF Project 26, Yang Zhichao: Chinese Bible.

Nicholas Jose shares from Bapo

Xu Zhiyuan, cultural intellectual, writer and journalist, in conversation with Nicholas Jose, author and former Cultural Counsellor, Australian Embassy, Beijing. Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 18 May 2016, in association with the 2016 Sydney Writers' Festival.

Xu Zhiyuan in conversation with Nicholas Jose

Pauline Yao, Curator at M+, Hong Kong, presents a behind-the-scenes preview of the museum’s architecture and curatorial vision. Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 9 July 2015.

Pauline Yao presents M+

Chinese art expert Claire Roberts speaks with Nikki Anderson about Yang Zhichao’s work and the significance of his work Chinese Bible (2009). Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 23 May 2015, in association with SCAF Project 26, Yang Zhichao: Chinese Bible.

Yang Zhichao's Chinese Bible with Dr Claire Roberts

Xue Xinran shares from her 2015 book, Buy Me the Sky, recounting stories of men and women born under China's single-child policy instituted in 1979. From the businessman's son unable to pack his own suitcase - to the PhD student who pulled herself out of extreme rural poverty, these revered 'little emperors and suns' form the emerging face of China. Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 21 May 2015, in association with the 2015 Sydney Writers' Festival.

Xue Xinran shares from Buy Me the Sky

Artist statement from Chinese artist Ai Weiwei to accompany his work An Archive (2015), exhibited as part of Go East: The Gene & Brian Sherman Contemporary Asian Art Collection with the Art Gallery of NSW in 2015.

Ai Weiwei: An Archive (2015) artist statement

Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF) presents Yang Zhichao: Chinese Bible, 2009, curated by Claire Roberts. Chinese Bible is a performance installation comprising 3,000 diaries and notebooks collected by Beijing-based artist Yang Zhichao. In this short film, go behind the scenes of the Chinese Bible install and hear the artist and curator discuss the project. Yang Zhichao: Chinese Bible, SCAF Project 26, was at SCAF from 14 May - 1 August 2015.

Yang Zhichao: Chinese Bible

Linda Jaivin and Dr Sophie McIntyre consider their experiences of Taiwan and mainland China – Linda presents her impressions of the Mainland during the 1980s, whilst Sophie reflects upon her engagement with contemporary Taiwanese art. Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 31 July 2014, in association with SCAF Project 22, HOME: Chen Chieh-jen and Chien-Chi Chang.

Linda Jaivin & Sophie McIntyre discuss experiences of Taiwan and China

A discussion between Anna Broinowski and Nick Torrens, hosted by Linda Jaivin, held prior to a special Documentary Australia Foundation fundraiser screening of the award-winning documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (2012), by Alison Klayman. Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 5 June 2014.

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry pre-screening discussion

A forum on Art & Ethics, hosted by Gene Sherman with panel members Shen Shaomin, Dr Claire Roberts, Qing Yang and Dr Thomas Berghuis. Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 20 October 2012, in association with SCAF Project 15, Go Figure! Contemporary Chinese portraiture.

Art & Ethics Forum

Caroline Baum in conversation with Dr Uli Sigg and Dr Claire Roberts prior to the opening of Go Figure! Contemporary Chinese Portraiture. Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 15 September 2012, in association with SCAF Project 15, Go Figure! Contemporary Chinese Portraiture.

Go Figure! with Dr Uli Sigg and Dr Claire Roberts

Professor Geremie R. Barmé, Director, the Australian Centre on China in the World, the Australian National University, Canberra, in conversation with Margaret Throsby. Recorded at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), 14 May 2011, in association with SCAF Project 10, Yang Fudong: No Snow on the Broken Bridge.

Geremie R. Barmé in conversation with Margaret Throsby

A collection of conversations and films exploring Chinese art and literature in relation to projects presented at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF).