In Beijing’s 798 Art Zone, there is a tunnel flaunting a burgeoning stratum of graffiti art and hinting at a passageway to an enigmatic, inner domain. We came to a halt before this aperture in the bowels of China’s ‘World Class Art Destination.’ Every turn had been uncharted territory, and a moment’s deliberation coursed through our group, a current of hesitation, as we pondered whether to take up the gaping lure and witness what lay in the chamber of these foreign shadows. Air seeping from the tunnel was thick with the acrid bite of fresh spray paint, and beneath the cloak of night we boldly ventured across the threshold.

Maria Lassnig: Happy Martin, UCCA, Beijing, September 2, 2023- January 7, 2024

In June 2024, a group of students and academics from the University of Western Australia bursting with energy, stepped into the house of Li Xianting. His calm demeanour brought them some peace as his insights into the more esoteric nature of Chinese contemporary art which engrossed their minds. The following is a transcript of the conversation- part interview and part speech- conducted by Li Xianting (LX), Darren Jorgensen (DJ) and Kye Fisher (KF).