As globalization and digital technologies continue to reshape contemporary life, questions about how art engages with the unknown—and how individual creativity interacts with wider artistic ecosystems—have moved to the forefront of international discourse. On November 28, the USC–SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry (ICCI) opened the 8th ICCI ART VALLEY Program “The Uncharted” exhibition and symposium at the Hongqi Center of the Shanghai International Digital Advertising Park. The event brought together leading artists, scholars, and industry figures from France, Poland, China, and Italy to explore new boundaries and possibilities in artistic practice.
Critical Dialogue:Reexamining the Relationship Between Individual Practice and Artistic Systems
With eight years of development, the ICCI ART VALLEY Program has grown into a distinctive international platform where academic inquiry, creative practice, and cross-cultural dialogue intersect.
This year’s edition of ICCI ART VALLEY Program centers on the theme “Individual Creation and the Making of Artistic Ecosystems.” Integrating an international exhibition with a research-driven symposium, the program brings together artists, scholars, and industry leaders from around the world for cross-disciplinary dialogue and collective reflection.
Moderated by Geoffrey Alan Rhodes, Tenured Professor at ICCI, the symposium brought together a diverse group of participants, including artists, curators, educators, and creative entrepreneurs.
The discussions examined the relationship between individual creativity and broader systems, challenging the enduring notion of the “isolated genius” and considering how personal artistic motivation interacts with networked forms of support in a hyper-connected world. Participants also reflected on emerging infrastructures that extend beyond traditional institutions, alongside the shifting role of evaluative mechanisms in an age shaped by digital attention economies. Another focal point was the impact of rapidly advancing AI-generated content on concepts of originality and authorship, as well as the ways artists negotiate questions of locality and global identity. The symposium concluded with reflections on practice, highlighting how successful contemporary initiatives offer concrete pathways for translating ideas into sustainable modes of action within evolving artistic ecosystems.
At the symposium, Weimin ZHANG, Tenured Professor and Dean of ICCI, emphasized that in a time defined by uncertainty, the idea of “the uncharted” embodies an enduring spirit of exploration. Artistic production, he noted, is not only a mode of cultural expression but also a vital force that drives social innovation and economic development. He highlighted ICCI’s continued commitment to integrating science, art, and management, building an interdisciplinary environment that reflects the institute’s own pursuit of new frontiers in the humanities. Through international academic exchange, ICCI aims to empower individual creators and contribute to the development of a more resilient, inclusive, and innovative artistic ecosystem.
Exploring New Territories:Visiting Artist Interpret “The Uncharted”
Following the symposium, the opening of the residency exhibition shifted the conversation from academic reflection to tangible artistic experience. The exhibition presented new works by international visiting artist, each offering a distinct interpretation of “the uncharted” through diverse media and perspectives.
Curator and Tenured Professor Xiaojun TAO emphasized that in a time of rapid technological change and deepening cultural exchange, art plays a vital role in guiding us toward these unexplored territories—mapping possibilities for the future and prompting reflection on fundamental questions of human existence.
Magdalena Kleszynska, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Art Education and Curatorial Studies at the University of the Arts Poznań, explores the blurred boundaries between identity and historical memory. Using the delicate technique of aluminum embroidery, she creates a poetic and gently melancholic narrative space that invites viewers to consider how personal and collective histories intersect in an unfinished and continually unfolding state.
Marco Abrate investigates emerging questions in technological ethics. By adjusting the perceptual distance between the viewer and the work, he raises critical questions about the boundaries between life and nonlife, and between the natural and the artificial in an AI-driven era.
Saifeng HUANG draws on the collective unconscious to explore understated aspects of Chinese cultural expression. His works evoke fragmented memories or dreamlike scenes, guiding viewers toward deeper layers of psychological reflection.
Jérémy Griffaud combines scientific inquiry with artistic experimentation. His watercolor paintings are transformed through virtual reality and 3D technologies, offering new ways of imagining cultural objects and material forms.
Guillaume Talbi works with natural and reclaimed materials, attentive to the life, history, and time embedded in each medium. Through sculptural forms inspired by animals, his works evoke philosophical reflection and emotional resonance, encouraging viewers to engage with the vitality carried within material traces.
These works are not only the outcome of each artist’s individual exploration but also a vivid response to the symposium’s central theme, demonstrating the range and depth that individual creativity can achieve within a supportive artistic ecosystem.
Educating for the Future:Developing Creative Talent in a Changing Global Landscape
As advances in AI, immersive technologies, and global cultural shifts reshape the creative field, ICCI remains committed to an educational approach grounded in international engagement, interdisciplinary learning, and industry relevance. The institute continues to strengthen liberal arts education and prepare practice-oriented talent for the cultural and creative industries.
The ICCI ART VALLEY Program reflects this educational vision in practice. Integrated with ICCI’s graduate course Digital Curation Management, the program provides students with opportunities to apply curatorial concepts, project operations, and public engagement strategies within real international art projects. Additional courses—such as AI Installation Art and Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Creative Practice—emphasize learning through making, fostering students’ capacity for interdisciplinary integration and original thinking. Together with ART VALLEY workshops and project seminars, these initiatives strengthen both professional training and global awareness.
Over the past eight years, ART VALLEY has brought more than forty artists and scholars from around the world to ICCI for residencies and intellectual exchange. Its growing international visibility has attracted an increasing number of applicants each year, establishing the program as a distinctive global platform. Looking ahead, ICCI will continue to advance international collaboration, leveraging the synergy between art and technology to promote deeper cross-cultural dialogue and innovation, and to contribute meaningfully to the development of the global cultural and creative industries.
Event Highlights
