When the world gives artists and art a place like 798 to call home, this is what it looks like.
798 is a gallery and studio area which is highly productive, heaps of shows and heaps of artists…
“798 Space is a new rising, avant-garde and trendy space that hosts high-level cultural, artistic and commercial activities. It can hold more than 1000 guests with ease:
1000 square meters and up to 9 meters high structural exhibition space + 300 square meters relaxing and eating space + contemporary art book shop + film and video showing area.
Located in Dashanzi Art District (original 798 Factory), the heart of a growing art and culture community in Beijing, 798 Space is the center and the biggest space that provide cultural, artistic and commercial activities in the area. It was designed by the East German’s architects in the Bauhaus style in the early 1950’s. Through the reconstruction and redesigning with the contemporary aesthetics by artists, the space combines the past, present, and future of the “New China” and the unique meaning of the socialistic culture”…. for more from them about 798 see the official site here.
I thought I’d start the post with a bit of local visual context in part I then move onto some of the installations next post. The whole place is an old factory area. It looks totally industrial. There is train lines and roads through out the grounds with all kinds of buildings surrounding each other, some in better repair than others.
Its a maze of constant stimulation, every corner has a structure, a building, a doorway, a gallery or some other random thing that is new and captivating. The constant bombardment of visual stimuli can be overwhelming, however if you have an idea of what you want to see there’s more than enough of 798 to take it easy and make a couple of trips out there.
Coffee isn’t too bad at some spots, and there is an abundance of those who speak English.
The whole place is lined with little streets like this that host shops, art galleries and studios.
“This is it: the creamy caramel center of Beijing’s art buzz.” Insider’s Guide to Beijing.
Related posts:
- 798 - Beijing Art District: Part II After showing a little snippet of the space that makes up 798, I’d like to post the editors choice of...
- Dorophy Tang - Installation Sanlitun, Beijing This life like piece is in part of a new shopping area in Beijing, San Li Tun. The complex was...
- Liu Bolin - The Invisible Man - Exhibits in Paris Liu Bolin, a young Beijing-based artist, has become know as the “invisible man” due to his ability to use his...
