Modern Art in China

[muyongshi]

I found this art center in Beijing and first was just curious if anyone has been there and what their thoughts were on it.

And then my second question is where else is stuff like this? I've never really looked and I have a friend that is super interested. Does anyone know of other major art centers/galleries that focus on more modern type of art (yeah I know that technically is a huge category- I just don't know how else to describe it). Does anyone know like where these places are in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and especially Chengdu. But basically thought it would be cool to get a list of good places to go throughout the country.

[mirgcire]

I am not sure about where to find modern art in China, but if you are wondering around Portland Oregon you might want to check out China Now at the Portland Art Museum. This is an exhibit of advertising, design and architecture advances in China's modern period (now). It is well laid out, informative and visually stimulating.

Edited October 29, 2009 at 01:19 AM by mirgcire
spelling :P

[gougou]

In Beijing, all the other places are right next door to the one you linked too, pretty much, 798, which is where 798 Space is in, is a whole complex of art galleries. There is also 草场地, which is the low rent alternative close to it (drawing more and more big name galleries) and 宋庄, which is more of an artists' village, so there are more studios than galleries, really.

A similar (but obviously inferior ) place in Shanghai is mentioned in this thread: Shanghai art scene.

As for other cities, I'd be surprised if there was anything comparable. Even in Shanghai this development has only kicked off recently, I wouldn't think that Chengdu or Shenzhen were on the forefront of modern art...

[muyongshi]

I wouldn't really expect so either but even like a small little local art community type thing would be cool too! Good to know about the 798 area. My friend and I are probably going to visit Beijing just to go there.

[roddy]

798's one of the few places I might actually recommend going to on a weekend - it tends to be busier and have a bit of a buzz then, but never what I'd call crowded, while the weekdays are pretty quiet. You've also got a chance of catching actual events at the weekend, and last time I was there I stumbled across some free food (highlight of the day for this philistine). Lots of places also close one day a week, but I can't remember which day.

Adrianlondon's a big fan of the area I think, he might be along shortly to comment. I'm not a huge art lover, but 798's great for having a bit of a different feel to it from the rest of the city, and there are some fantastic huge spaces and random photo ops. Eating there tends to be pretty pricey.

[gougou]

Lots of places also close one day a week

I think it's Monday.

[muyongshi]

Great thanks for that info!

After a LOT of looking I may have found something in chengdu, but it doesn't have it's own website but something I'll have to check out. Unfortunately, the website is on my other comp but I think it was 成都现代艺术馆 and just confirmed that. Some pictures I found on a blog {hopefully} confirm that it is a bit more modern.

[jbradfor]

Let me first quibble with some terminology. The art/architecture style "Modern" has two common uses: the first refers to a period in the 1910's - 1950's that called itself "Modern", and the second use refers to whatever art/architecture is currently in vogue. [Humm, the wikipedia article on "Modern Art" lists the period as 1860s to the 1970s. That seems too long to me, but I would trust wikipedia over me in this case. But that doesn't change my point.]

Hence, if you are interested in art that is being produced now, the common term to search for is "Contemporary Art".

If you expand "China" to include Taiwan, I highly recommend the Museum Contemporary Art Taipei

[muyongshi]

Well thanks for the clarification. I am pretty umm art illiterate.

[adrianlondon]

As Roddy predicted, here I am!

I loved 798 when I first went there back in 2006. Although it's got very clichéd now, as the whole of China's contemporary art scene appears to have swallowed itself and been spat out as a poor immitation, I still like the area. I'll be in Beijing for a week from 20th November and going to 798 is definitely on my "to do" list. There's loads there, so some of it should appeal to everyone.

Also, Roddy's correct. I've been during the week and it's kind of dead. The whole area doesn't feel good when it's dead, so you're better off going at the weekend. AS has also been said, Shanghai's equivalent is the m50 district. I don't know about any other city in China (as I've not been to any).