*This page applied to mainland China ONLY, Taiwan and Hongkong is not effected.
 


For the Mainland China art fair, all artworks will be reviewed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Review process:


galleries submit their selected artworks to the art fair.
The art fair organizer will then submit their art catalog and all artworks to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the approval of exhibiting and selling at the art fair.

The gallery doesn’t need to contact the Ministry of Culture and Tourism directly. Often, the art fair organizer will conduct the initial review of all the artworks and then submit to the government for official examination. 


Gallerists intending to participate in China art fairs should heed specific advice regarding the selection of artworks, particularly considering the sensitive nature of content that may be subject to scrutiny under Chinese regulations: 

   

Political Content: Avoid artworks that could be interpreted as challenging the political stance of the Chinese government or that criticize political figures or policies. 

National Unity: Do not exhibit works that could be seen as undermining China’s national unity, sovereignty, or territorial integrity. Any piece that might suggest separatism or challenge the territorial claims of China is likely to be rejected. 

State Secrets and Security: Refrain from showing art that could be interpreted as revealing state secrets or endangering national security.

Ethnic and Religious Sensitivity: Steer clear of works that could incite ethnic hatred or discrimination or that might be seen as disrespectful to China’s ethnic groups and their customs or religions.

Violence and Terrorism: Avoid artworks that depict or could be seen as glorifying violence, terrorism, or social unrest.

Obscenity and Morality: Stay away from works that feature explicit sexual content or could be considered pornographic, as well as those promoting gambling or drug use, which are against public morality.

Historical Representation: Be cautious with artworks that depict historical events or figures. Works that deliberately alter history or seriously distort historical facts are prohibited.

Art Materials: Ensure that the materials used in the artworks comply with the import and export restrictions, particularly regarding wildlife and other protected materials.


For specific Government instruction on Artwork exhibition/Selling/import/export/or any other art related activity :

                           https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2016/content_5070760.htm





According to research and some interviews, the most commonly rejected artworks are usually related to bloody, brutal, and obscene scenes. However, the government does not have detailed and explicit regulations regarding these works. As for nude art, it is in a grey area. The specifics may be related to whether there is explicit sexual content.
According to an interviewee who preferred to remain anonymous, there have been instances where nude artworks were approved, but the exhibition qualification was revoked just before the start of the art fair.
FYI: Shanghai's regulation is relatively lower than Beijing's due to its political is less significant.  

For gallerists looking to participate in art fairs within China, it's important to be aware that there are artists who may be unofficially discouraged or restricted from exhibiting due to their past activities or political positions. These individuals may not be explicitly named on any official blacklist published by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, but their exclusion is often informed by the collective experience and practices of local galleries. For example, Ai Weiwei 😅

For gallerists who wish to participate in mainland China art fairs, it is crucial to be aware of government regulations. Incurring a rejection not only leads to a waste of time and resources but can also affect the gallery's reputation and planning. 

For art fairs in Hong Kong and Taiwan, while the regulations from mainland China do not directly apply, gallerists must still be attentive to the selection criteria set by individual fair organizers. These organizers may have their own set of guidelines and restrictions which could be influenced by a variety of factors, including local laws, cultural sensitivity, and market preferences. It is important for gallerists to engage with organizers beforehand to understand these nuances and prepare their exhibits accordingly to align with the expectations and standards of the respective regions.
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