This edition of UCCA's "Curated by..." series is a special occasion indeed. Alongside his own UCCA solo show, Wisdom of the Poor, artist Song Dong will curate an exhibition for young artists Ma Qiusha and Wang Shang, who have been his students since the ages of 8 and 6, respectively. Since he began teaching them art in their neighboring hutongs in Beijing, Song Dong says that the pair "have gone from being my students, to being my friends, and now, my fellow exhibiting artists."

In this installation in UCCA's White Cube & Black Box exhibition space, Song Dong does double duty as curator and collaborating artist. The room is divided by a "para-pavilion" similar to the one he is currently showing at the 2011 Venice Biennale. The two halves of the room represent the interior and exterior scenery of Beijing's old hutong neighborhoods. For the interior, female video artist Ma Qiusha will contribute video and objects that reflect the female identity and familial relationships; for the exterior, Wang Shang will contribute works related to his father's pastime of collecting cameras and his mother's pastime of collecting gems and precious stones.

The stories of Ma Qiusha and Wang Shang, appropriately set in one of Song Dong's "crowded courtyards," offer a rare window into the art and lives of emerging and established artists, teachers and students, neighbors and lifelong friends.

For more information, please read the ““Curated by Song Dong”Ma Qiusha: Address & Wang Shang: Sleuthing” press release.