More from the art world
I've been to a LOT of shows in the past couple of weeks, but I am still turning up people and things I like every now and then. Here's some more for the collection. I think I won't go to too many more - there is Art Beijing, which I have managed to get a Press Pass for (as an Arts Writer no less). I think I am supposed to have a translator with me, but oh well.
Chen Lingyang - ignoring the figure, she takes these amazing late night photographs of the city - you look into them and virtually all you can see are the few lights still on, which create a kind of constellation across the skyline.
Clare Maugeais - obviously not Chinese, but some good work anyway. I saw some long permanent-pressed silks of black+white cityscapes - more interesting than these.
Zhu Wei - beautiful prints, great colours.
Yan Cong (aka 'Chimney') - soft sculpture wonderland and quirky illustrations. I particularly like the collage work. What's also intriguing is they look very much like a female made them, but the artist is apparently male.
Zhang Jianhua - these are made from rice - can you believe it? Full marks for gimmick factor - they are also exquisitely beautiful.
This sort of POP work is everywhere in China, and sells for obscene amounts of money. I did like this work by the Luo Bros. - the lolling pig tongues are quite mesmerising.
Forgot to note this sculptor, but I have seen his work in several galleries. This is my favourite.
These photographs were taken by a Danish woman, I think. They are all double-sided interiors of siheyuan (traditional Chinese courtyard houses) - I just like the way they were hung.
This is the view into a well-known Chinese artist's studio. I was wandering around this factory complex during an opening that was happening nearby and chanced upon this. Apparently this artist, as well as many other famous Chinese artists, treat their studio as a sort of factory. There are many assistants; they come to complete a certain number of pieces per day/week; they don't talk to anyone - it's like a job. I found that strange, but I suppose when foreigners are paying 200K per painting it becomes a bit like that. These 'famous' artists become astonishingly wealthy very quickly - buying Hummers and black BMWs, investing HUGE studios - I'm not sure what else they do with the money, other than move overseas.
