1978 was an important turning point in Chinese history. The ideology of "emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts" has indeed awakened and promoted the development of contemporary Chinese art. People's subjective consciousness was returned, and the creative spirit of art was activated. The emancipation of the mind, the revival of human nature, the reflection on the "Cultural Revolution", and the pursuit of real life are like a fresh spring breeze blowing through the art world. 1979-1989 was the decade of Chinese contemporary art enlightenment. Scar art, star art exhibition, rural realism to the "85 New Wave" constituted the surging art picture in the 1980s. Humanistic thinking draws artists’ attention to ethnic minorities and rural scenes, while Western modernism encourages artists to explore avant-garde artistic language boldly and freely. Until the end of the 1989 Modern Art Exhibition, the stage of realism exploration of contemporary Chinese art almost completed.

"Ten Years (1979-1989): Contemporary Chinese Art from Long Collection" selects representative works of this period, intending to present to the audience the scene of the first ten years of Chinese contemporary art development. They not only reflect the background of the 80s, but also inspired the artistic creation of the 90s, and are worthy of being recorded and studied.