Gen Xi
Gen Xi is shaping its own future—and, increasingly, the future of the world around it.
Amid the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, humanoid robotics, and the electric vehicle revolution, China’s youth have come of age in a period of transformation unlike any the world has witnessed before. Raised during an era of unprecedented technological acceleration and under the leadership of a ruler with no fixed term limit, the exhibition Gen Xi introduces a cohort of artists whose ways of thinking, living, and creating differ fundamentally from those of previous generations—as every new generation should. Unlike their elders, who experienced war, scarcity, and collective sacrifice, this “lucky generation” has grown up in an increasingly affluent, urban, and digitally connected China. Bound through social media and internet subcultures, they are among the first generations to experience the possibilities—and contradictions—of the “New China” from childhood. Yet this freedom is accompanied by uncertainty. Rising living costs, plummeting birth rates, difficult job prospects, and the pressures of home ownership have complicated the traditional path toward adulthood. In China, rather than relying on English-language labels such as “millennial” or “Gen Z,” people often refer to age groups as the “post-80s” (balinghou 八零后), “post-90s” (jiulinghou 九零后), and “post-00s” (linglinghou 零零后). Despite the minimal gap in years, such distinctions are significant, reflecting the extraordinary pace of China’s development since the reform and opening-up period. Defined by individuality and adaptability, and unafraid of complexity or disruption, Gen Xi is shaping its own future—and, increasingly, the future of the world around it.
