As diplomatic relations with Western nations became fraught after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, China became more proactive in promoting exchange and cooperation with countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Against this backdrop, numerous art exhibitions from these countries travelled to China, marking the beginning of an artistic dialogue between China and the Global South. Among these interactions, exchanges with Mexico were particularly active and influential. Artistic collaboration between Mexican and Chinese artists began in the 1930s and peaked in the mid-twentieth century, playing a pivotal role that shaped the development of Chinese art and left a lasting impact that persists today.

This private collection, on loan from artist and scholar Zheng Shengtian, contains a valuable collection of historical materials spanning exhibition catalogues, books, photographs, documents, and videos from over half a century ago. This special book display will illuminate this lesser-known story and its artistic and cultural significance.