Identity, Ignorance and the Politics of the Self – Chinese Art and Literature in Conversation

University of Göttingen — May 19, 2025

On May 19, 2025, the University of Göttingen hosted an inspiring cross-cultural conference that brought together leading writers, artists, and scholars from China, Europe, and the United States.

Held in the historic Paulinerkirche and supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the event explored how questions of identity and ignorance shape modern self-understanding across literature, art, and philosophy.

---

Featured Guests

Writers & Artists
Yu Hua · Ge Fei · Mao Jian · Ouyang Jianghe · Xi Chuan · Li Tuo · Xu Bing

Chairs & Scholars
Dominic Sachsenmaier · Wang Hui · Lydia H. Liu · Anselm Franke

---

Program Highlights

Opening & Welcome
Dominic Sachsenmaier (University of Göttingen)
Wang Hui (Tsinghua University)

---

Identities and Uncertainties — Literary Readings
Chair: Lydia H. Liu
Participants: Ge Fei · Ouyang Jianghe · Xi Chuan

---

Settings, Endings, and Transitions
Chair: Wang Hui
Participants: Yu Hua · Steffen Kopetzky · Mao Jian · Li Tuo

---

Doing Art Today?
Chair: Anselm Franke
Participants: Xu Bing · Anna-Louise Rolland · Viktor Lukas Witkowski · Zhang Hanwen

---

Panel 1: Identities and Uncertainties – Literary Readings

---

Panel 2: Settings, Endings, and Transitions

---

Panel 3: Doing Art Today?

 

 

---