798 Art District (7): Skeltons and Robots, Obscure Beijing Art

It is the oddities of the art in this area that I find more interesting than the traditional types of art you might expect to see in China.  Where else can you find tiny robots made of computer parts or jewelry made from the skeletons of birds and reptiles?

In contrast to the sculptures and the works created on a more massive scale, these tiny objects become more personal because you must get so close to appreciate them.

Here is the series called "Gimino" found at the 798 Art Center.  These included tiny robots, animals and related objects made out of computer parts, circuit boards, USB ports, etc.

This is the shop called "Skeleton".  Notice their sign is fashioned from actual skeleton parts! The artist collects the skeletons of tiny birds and reptiles and casts them in precious metals to create lovely, creepy jewelry and sculpture.  One of her pieces was a silver ring with a bird skull in it that had a working, movable jaw.  Another was a solid gold bird skeleton set with jewels and tiny feathers.  Like many artists she would not allow photos in her shop because (and rightly so) she is concerned about copycats, but I will update with a link to her website. 

Lastly, here are some photos of an exhibition being installed at a gallery called "Iberia". They appear to be bits of translucent shell-like material, each hung from a slim stick of wood inserted in the wall.  It has a lovely scale-like effect that moves and shimmers.  I will update with more gallery and artist info when I can track it down.

Beijing Pets are not a food source... I hope.

People in Beijing love their pets, just like anywhere else in the world.  Even in the humblest neighborhoods there were many little dogs and cats sitting in laps or following their people around.  No where did I see any evidence of anyone eating them... except maybe that bunny.
 

These three kitties were lounging in a small public square in the 798 Art District, when, right on cue, all three ran to this doorway and began mewing and pawing at the door.  In a few minutes the metal gate went up and a man came out with their dinner in a little can.

Naturally, the Pekingese is one of the most popular breeds in Beijing (Peking).  Supposedly it is because, with their flat noses and expressive eyes, they bear resemblance to the guardian lion statues that sit outside the entrances to many homes, like this one.

I also noticed that most of the dogs were not on leashes, but seemed very good about not straying far from their owners.

This dog was waiting outside his home in one of the city's Houtongs, the smaller alleyways that are the old, original streets.  This is another popular breed of dog in Beijing.  I think it is a Spitz, which is a German breed.  Most dogs I've seen here are toy breeds, as well, which are practical choices in the crowded and over populated areas.

I saw several little bunnies in cages outside homes or even inside shops.  They seemed to be pets, but I thought that about the bunnies I saw in Mexico and it turned out some of those were just being kept as a food source :(  I hope for this guy's sake, and that of this little boy who seems to love him, that he is a pet!

UPDATE!:  More evidence of pet lovers in Beijing:  Here is a little store located in one of the houtongs that sells handmade clothes for dogs and cats!

798 Art District (7): Gallery Architecture

There are over 100 galleries/exhibition spaces listed on the official 798 guide map (see their website here) and trying to figure out which ones we visited is twisting my brain.  The entire area grew out of a deserted factory/warehouse district, so the skeleton of the structures in the neighborhood are largely old brick and concrete shells.  The galleries, studios and residences that sprang from these include both low-end/cobbled together rooms and higher end well-designed structures.

The first gallery here is one of the newer ones, the Xin Dong Cheng Space for Contemporary Art.  It is an open interior with a modern poured concrete shell.

(This is also the courtyard where the Red Tree House and the two statues looking up are located).

The pattern of lights across the ceiling of the main room is an art installation on its own.




























It also features and unusual egg/cave-live entrance and a glassed in tree that was preserved during the building.   In another neighborhood we watched a crew building a structure around an existing tree in order to preserve and showcase it, much like this one.  Very thoughtful.

I'm not sure if you are supposed to, but we went inside to visit the tree! :)

The second gallery has kept for of its original structure, and rightly so.  Likely a factory room or assembly room of some kind, it features many skylight windows and an unusually shaped roof in a kind of wave pattern.  It reminds me a bit of an airplane hangar.

Inside they have built a glass box to house the staircase that leads to a small second floor gallery as well as a ground floor shop and cafe.  The open glass and center handrail of the stairs would likely not fly in the US due to code issues, but it is beautiful, if a bit vertigo inducing ;)

On the whole it seems that the architecture in this area is not bound by many rules, nor are they held to strict codes, which allows for more freedom and imagination (an a few safety violations ;).  It may not be everyone's taste, but I found it quite fascinating.

Dinner in the 798, Accompanied by Cicada Symphony

Dinner at the Art Cafe in the 798, accompanied by a cicada symphony:  The dinner wasn't worth mentioning except that you shouldn't expect the chicken to look or taste like the kind of chicken you may be used to when ordering a Caesar salad.  It tasted fine... just not like chicken.  Which is funny since everything is supposed to taste like chicken, right?  I think it was some of the grisly bits, deep fried.  Anyway, that atmosphere was peaceful and the cicada symphony was calming, if a bit aggressive ;)  To watch the video and hear the cicadas click here.

798 Art District (4): Red Tree House, "YingXiang Zhiou" Boutique

Here is a small boutique called "YingXiang Zhiou", but I have referred to as the Red Tree House because the tree is wrapped in red yarn and red lanterns are hung from the branches.  They have also piped in traditional music into the small courtyard where it is located, behind an art gallery.  The whole effect is very dollhouse/otherworldly.  

Inside they sell handmade clothing in very fashion forward designs.  Everything is linen or silk and is very "Beijing Onion Style", which is a layered look, like the skins of an onion.

To see the video and hear the music click here.

798 Art District (3): Sculpture in the 798: The Political and the Whimsical... or is it all political?

Maybe its me, but i am reading political undertones to much of the art here.  The freedoms and exposure to western influences are still recent enough that even the young generations have seen massive change in their lifetime. 

Many of the sculptures I saw in this area had obvious political themes, while others seemed more directly emotional or whimsical.  Although on second look I began to read a kind of symbolism into them.  











These ones, with their broken faces, seemed, at first , to reference the remains of artifacts found in ancient ruins.  But perhaps the way in which they are "broken" is intentionally symbolic.  The fact that their eyes, ears and the whole tops of their heads (the brains and therefore thought) have been removed, illustrates how the country censors what they are allowed to see and hear from the rest of the world, impeding their ability to have think for themselves.

The melancholy expression of the mouth showing the emotional reaction.

Here are some of the more seemingly obvious political sculptures:

 This artist had other interesting sculptures in his shop that seemed to reference traditional Chinese characters and these morphed into exaggerated modern interpretations.  


These three dragons are wearing communist garb and standing at allegiance with hands over heart.  I am not sure if the colors are significant but dragons are quite symbolic in Chinese culture, symbolizing the Emporer.  So here stand three dragons in communist garb with full pockets... hmmm.







 

These seem a bit more light-hearted or design oriented in nature:

If these guys look familiar, perhaps it is because there is one like this in Millennium Park in Chicago.  I am not sure if it is the same artist, though.

Not sure how much whispering a giant metal butterfly/lion will be doing in the wind... but, ok.

798 Art District (2): What are they looking at?

Installment 2 of the 798 Art District.  These sculptures were in a small courtyard behind one of the larger galleries.  I love how quiet and introspective they are, despite their size.  Are they looking up with optimism?  Or disappointment, at what they can't have?  They communist garb and lack of ornamentation suggests a stoicism of 'living without' while their gaze, directed upwards, towards they sky suggests dreaming of something more.  Sort of hopeful-against hope.  Yearning but still doubting.  I have included pics as well as a small video, showing... what they are looking at.

Watch the video here.

Watch the video here.

798 Art District (1): Graffiti

Installment 1 of the 798 Art District:  There is so much to see here that I must break it down into sections.  This first one contains examples of the graffiti art around the 798 Art District, an area that grew out of a former factory/warehouse district into a flourishing neighborhood of galleries, boutiques and incorporated artist colony.  Residences, galleries and shops all blur the line in a bustling hive of energy and creativity.  The Graffiti here is both art and tagging as well as some social commentary.  Seeing the influence of the artists who live here as well as the Chinese characters make it especially different than what I have seen before.