Contemporary Art and Classical Art Shining at the Same Art Fair

As one of the most influential art fairs in Asia, “Art Beijing 2012” was closed on May 2 in Beijing Agriculture Exhibition Center. This year, “Art Beijing- Contemporary Art Fair” and “Art Beijing - Classical Art Fair” were held jointly.

According to the statistics from Art Market Research Center (AMRC), the four-day Art Beijing 2012 art fair had an exhibition area of 20,000 square meters (with a year-on-year growth of 46%), 160 exhibitors (35%), with the ratio of domestic and overseas exhibitors being 5:1. This year, the number of visitors totaled 52,000 person times, up by 30%. More than 90% exhibitors made deals, and the contract amount came to 300 million RMB in total, up by 57% from a year ago, accounting for 85% of the gross contract amount of art fairs in China during the first half. Meanwhile, these art fairs generated an economic benefit of nearly 500 million RMB for the related sectors. At Art Beijing 2012, five top Asian auction companies organized auction previews, and held 12 art lectures. Two charity projects raised funds of 700,000 RMB, which will be used to fund autistic children and left- behind children in poverty-stricken areas, winning praises from the public.

Galleries had a great sales result. For example, Leng Jun’s Bundled Rhino presented by Triumph Art Space was sold at 5.5 million RMB, and Stars by Zhao Erjun presented by Shanghai Grand Theater Gallery was sold at 1.8 million RMB. By the evening of May Day, Beauty Tao International Art Institution had had a turnover of approximately 4 million RMB. Eastation Gallery, Hanmo Art Gallery, Gallery Cinquini, Hagemann (Germany) Gallery, Xiang Xie Shan Fang, LanLi Gallery, and other exhibitors all had good deals.

Art Beijing always takes promoting and introducing young Asian artists as the duty, and this art fair has more than 30 young artists from China and South Korea who are active in contemporary art. Image Beijing theme exhibition exhibited works of contemporary artists from China, USA, UK, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and other countries. These works and the subtle space design together with a unique exhibition visiting way — watching image art by lying down, bring a new visual and space experience.

Art Beijing continuously focuses on both the academic and commercial influence. This year, Art Beijing joined Phoenix Art Palace for “Beyond Painting - Invitation Exhibition of Chinese Oil Painters”, which exhibited key art works by 18 contemporary oil painting artists including He Duoling, Wang Keju, Yan Ping, Wang Yuping and so on, who integrate oriental spirit with western oil painting. Three ink painting special exhibitions, “Standing Apart -Chinese Contemporary Ink Painting invitational Exhibition”, “Quintessence of Nature - Xu Longsen Shanshui Art Exhibition” and “The East -the East, Chinese Contemporary Ink Painting of Guan Yuliang”, exhibited works of more than ten representative contemporary ink painting artists, demonstrating the creation and achievements in ink painting.

A principal from Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture said, Beijing art market is in the core of Chinese art market, taking a market share of 70% to 80%. It’s their target to make “Art Beijing” to have a greater influence, attract more social attentions, and reach higher contract amount, therefore form unique and distinct features of its own.

Buddha Jumps over the Wall-ZHANG Ding Solo Exhibition

Duration: Jun 2- Jul 1, 2012.

Opening: 4PM-7PM, Jun 2, 2012.

Venue: Top Contemporary Art Centre, Room 101, Bldg. 5, 18 Wuwei Rd., Shanghai

Artists: ZHANG Ding

On June 2nd 2012, ZHANG Ding’s Solo Exhibition Buddha Jumps over the Wall will be on view in Top Contemporary Art Centre (Building 5, 18 Wuwei Road, next to ShanghART Taopu Warehouse). The exhibition lasts until July 1st during which viewers will once again be able to experience a unique atmosphere a la ZHANG Ding.

The abundant content of ingredients and the complex production processes in the cuisine Buddha Jumps over the Wall become the starting point of this time’s ZHANG Ding Solo Exhibition. From 2007 until today, the artist has been continuously pursuing the self-consistent evolution of his aesthetic system. Both biological and societal characters of eating as a daily behaviour are constantly interspersed throughout this exhibition. From getting food to a feast on carnival, from a disorderly party to energy dissipation, Buddha Jumps over the Wall involves a simple system with an abundantly dramatic character. The exhibition continues the tradition of controlling force on the site since ZHANG Ding solo exhibition Opening in 2011. At the same time, neither the implementation of the performers nor the participation of the viewers can default the relations and effects on the site. Buddha Jumps over the Wall will be a genuine art feast which shouldn’t be missed this June in Shanghai.

Close to the Sea and The Revival of the Snake

YANG Fudong Solo Exhibition: 12th May to 15th June 2012 in ShanghART Beijing and ARTMIA Gallery. This show will be Yang Fudong’s first Beijing solo show and the premiere of the works in China.

The Revival of the Snake(2005)

This work tells the end of the story of a soldier going inti exile. On a sunny winter’s day, the icy ground is stared with snow and life seems as peaceful as the weather. A soldier, escaping from a battlefield, comes to this deserted place which is plagued with the smell of death, He is wandering, attempting to leave this uninhabited world. The only option left to him, however, is walking, ceaselessly and endlessly. What is waiting for him? A hibernating snake is startled awake from its nice dreams and then sees a human, eyes blindfolded and hands bound on the back, kneeling on the freezing ice-covered lake. Who is sentenced to death by the sound of gunshots reverberating around the mountains?

All That Is Solid Melts into Air-SHI Qing Solo Exhibition

Duration: 1PM-6PM, May 26–Jun 30, 2012.

Venue: ShanghART H-Space, Bldg 18, 50 Moganshan Rd., Shanghai

Artists: SHI Qing

All That Is Solid Melts into Air, a solo exhibition of SHI Qing, will be presented in ShanghART H-Space on May 26th, 2012. The exhibition title is a sentence which is frequently quoted from Karl Marx’s work. And it is a series of artist’s practical clues about art productions and exhibitions in recent years, as well as intervention and criticism for today’s art consumption system. In exhibition, artist displays work materials from studio, experimental models, semi-finished works, and reproduced exhibited works together. All these are mixed in the space and partly covered by green plants. Through paths across the exhibition, every viewer becomes a referee to identify and redefine the art works. The work forms come from landscape images in different historic time or from public experience. Using a stage like setting, it pushes the background-like display to the front desk after the subject of work was taken away.

NCPA Drama Jane Eyre

Time: 2012/6/13-6/24

Venue: NCPA-Theatre

Price: VIP/580/500/420/300/180 RMB

Tickets are available at 64177845

NCPA Drama Jane Eyre

Production: National Centre for the Performing Arts

Co-produced by National Centre for the Performing Arts, National Theatre of China

Presenter: National Theatre of China

The silent piano, closed suitcase...under the spotlight, Jane Eyre, in a long grey skirt, bursts into the still life-like stage. In the misty fog, standing outside the Thornfield manor gate, Jane Eyre unintentionally starts the fate engine of the people in this old manor.

In June 2009, Jane Eyre pioneered by NCPA was staged for the first time, and this was also the first interpretation of Charlotte Bronte’s classical novel of the same name on the stage of drama in China. Wang Xiaoying and Yu Rongjun served as the director and the writer respectively. With undiluted poetic language and excellent stage effect, thousands of audiences were immersed into the amazing 160-minute play, and quickly identified with the characters of the play.

Since the premiere, the play has been staged for 56 times and toured in major cities including Chongqing and Shanghai in 2011. It enjoyed a full house in every performance and was highly praised by media and experts.

China National Opera House Tannhauser

Time: 2012/6/27-6/29

Venue: NCPA-Opera House

Price: 100/180/280/400/460/520/580/VIP

Tickets are available at 64177845

Richard Wagner’s opera T annhauser with three acts was created during 1842-1845. Its full title is Tannhauser und der Sangerkrieg auf der Wartburg, for which Wagner wrote a script according to the ancient legend. This opera was premiered at the Dresden Court Theatre on October 19, 1845. Tannhauser is free from the influence of Italian opera, without encoding form of Italian opera. Its various parts adopt transitional approach as mentioned by Wagner. Story plots are full of dramatic conflicts, while every character has distinct personality. Since this opera, Wagner began to pay attention to comprehensive integration of dramatic ideas and music, and started to focus on the effect of stage design. It can be said that Tannhauser is a typical masterpiece with Wagner’s style.

Animal Carnival: Family Concert at CCOM

Time: 2012/6/09-6/10

Venue: CCOM Music Hall

Price: 150/200/300/540(200*3)/720(300*3)

Tickets are available at 64177845

Dress your kids up, enjoy the classic music and have fun - This is one concert where the audience won’t have to sit still!

At Concert Hall of Central Conservatory of Music, Director/Conductor Wing Ho and Radetzkymo Chamber Orchestra invite your family to join the journey through the timeless classic music tailored for young listeners. Audiences young and old will recognize these classical favourites such as Hungarian Dance No.5, Carnival of the Animals, Flight of the Bumble Bee, Dance of the Four Swans.

Warm up with pre-concert face painting (free), pattern hunting of Chinese architectural details and dress-up competition, and see how a violin is made - Learning about music should always be this much fun!