WUHAO’s Water Winter Installation Party

“Wood-Spring’s freshness in the Chinese garden,

Fire-Summer’s expansion to Dashilar,

Metal-Fall’s breath between Zhujia and Mao’er hutong

…Time for Water-Winter to feed the magical Earth.”

5 Elements – 4 Seasons – 1 HOUSE

This Saturday, December 10th from 3.30 pm onwards, experience the transformative power of water and MPMP’s first collection.

“Magnetic black, silicon dresses, blue men, precious hair and standing bones, reflecto games, sweet cashmere and honey phoenix will search the sky-pond for new pearls of wisdom.” – WUHAO, Curated Shop

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, December 10, 2011
• Time: Starts at 3:30PM
• Location: WUHAO Curated Shop
• Address: No. 35, Mao’er Hutong, Dongcheng District, 市东城区帽儿胡同35号 (see map below)
• Tel: 18911355035
• Website: www.wuhaoonline.com

GtB’5: Raffles-BIFT Sustainable Design Showcase

“Working with materials like wood, metal, plastics & concrete, the students were challenged to design creative products while incorporating the ideas of sustainability into their projects.”

Showcasing special sustainable eco-design projects by the students of Raffles-BIFT International College, Beijing, this is part of the GtB’5: Green eARTh for Everyone event series.

Hosted by Raffles-BIFT, We Impact, and The Hutong, the event will be held this Saturday, December 10 from 2-5PM and they’ll be serving snacks from The Veggie Table and refreshments by Shangrila Farms.

The showcase “aims to bring about an awareness amongst the general public on the importance of sustainability issues and how creative design thinking can be used to bring about simple yet innovative changes to our lifestyle and the environment around us.”  

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, December 10
• Time: 2-5PM
• RSVP: Contact Michelle Yang michelle.yang@we-impact.com
• Tel: 158 1063 9522
• Website: www.we-impact.com

Kate Downie’s “The Concrete Hour” Solo Exhibition

“No space is denied the right to be poetic. The physical experience of a city entails its own artistic language.” – Kate Downie

“The Concrete Hour” is a solo exhibition by UK’s leading artist Kate Downie who will be presenting for the first time in China at Where Where Art Space in Caochangdi.

“Returning to Beijing for the second time this autumn, the acclaimed Royal Scottish Academy artist meets a city whose fabric spans a rupture between the teeming, irregular accumulation of human life and possessions in narrow hutongs and the overarching, regular forms of skyscrapers and apartment blocks erected beside vast roadways; in this city, there is no ‘middle scale’.”

With two live drawing events on Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25, anyone can witness this pictorial drama unfold as Kate Downie will be creating two large-scale drawings on the walls of the gallery.

“Its realisation marks a first-hand artistic event with which the encounter is a unique experience for both artist and audience.”

Curated by Iona Whittaker, the exhibition will also display a series of supporting works and a film of the artist’s recent performance drawing in the UK.

Works by Kate Downie

Event Details:

• Live Drawing Dates: Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25 from 5-6PM
• Exhibition Opening: Saturday, November 26, 2011
• Curated by Iona Whittaker
• Location: Where Where Exhibition Space “哪里哪里” 艺术空间
• Address: No. 319-1, East End Art Zone A, Caochangdi Village, Chaoyang District 100015  北京市朝阳区草场地村319-1艺术东区A区内, 100015
• Contact: 159 1080 3790

About Kate Downie:

Over the past 20 years, Kate Downie has established herself as one of the UK’s leading artists, known equally for her drawing and printmaking as for her painting. Less well-known are her series of short performance Road Movies, initiated in Paris with ‘Child’s Play Traffic Jam’ (1989) followed by ‘Driven’ (Aberdeenshire 1999), ‘The Asphalt Sea’ (Norway 2007), and ‘Matchmaker’ in 2011. Her first major solo show was in 1982 in her native Aberdeen; since then her work has been exhibited throughout the world including in Denmark, Norway, The Netherlands, France and the USA. Downie was President of the Society of Scottish Artists from 2004-2006, and was appointed a member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 2007. Her work is held in many public and private collections. Downie lives and works in Edinburgh.

AAB: Browse and Shop for New Artwork Online

Affordable Art Beijing (AAB) has launched new artwork by popular artists like Cui Jun, Guo Hongjie and Zhang Yuanfeng.

Browse new artwork here.

About Affordable Art Beijing (AAB): 

Affordable Art Beijing (AAB) was founded in 2006 and since its inception has grown to become one of the most important art events in the region.

AAB holds events and sells art work online to allow art lovers take home an original piece of contemporary art and also gives artists a platform to exhibit their work. With works selling from just a few hundred RMB, AAB has something for everyone’s style and budget.

3 Countries, 3 Artists: An Artist Exhibition Launch Party

“3 Countries 3 Artists: Fabien Mérelle, Shunsuke François Nanjo, Sun Xun”

This Saturday, October 8, Hadrien de Montferrand Gallery will be hosting the opening of their newest art exhibition – “3 Countries 3 Artists: Fabien Mérelle, Shunsuke François Nanjo, Sun Xun” from 4:00PM-6:00PM at their gallery in 798 Art District.

An introduction of these three featured artists:
 Sun Xun Works:

Born in 1980 in Fuxin, Liaoning province, Sun Xun graduated in 2005 from the printmaking department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, China. While mainly a video artist, Sun Xun has also produced numerous drawings and mixed media works in which a central character, usually a magician, explores an apocalyptic and oneiric world.

Fabien Mérelle Works:

Born in 1981 in Fontenay-aux-Roses, Fabien Mérelle graduated from the National School of Fine Arts in Paris in 2006 with a 4 months exchange at the Xi’An Academy of Fine Arts. He produces small and meticulously executed drawings where his adult self battles with a perverted childhood universe.

Shunsuke François Nanjo Works:

Born in 1981 in Tokyo, Shunsuke François Nanjo graduated from Le Mirail University in Toulouse, France, in 2005. He uses painting, photography and installations to explore Heterotopia,which is the concept of space within spaces. Besides, he also aims to reveal the traces of memory that our experience leaves imprinted in the world.

All 3 artists have exhibited widely including the Drawing Center, New York, U.S.A, Guy Bartschi Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland, the Bencab Museum, Baguio City, Philippines and the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, U.S.A.

The works of these three artists are all part of prestigious collections including Minsheng Bank Contemporary Art Collection, Florence and Daniel Guerlain Drawing Collection, and Platform China Contemporary Art Institute to mention a few.

This exhibition will be available from October 9-December 4 at Hadrien de Monteferrand Gallery in 798 Art District.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, 8 October 2011
• Exhibition: Oct. 9-Dec. 4, 2011
• Time: 4-6PM
• Location: Hadrien de Monteferrand Gallery
• Address:  798 Art District,  Next to At Cafe; No 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu Chaoyang District
• Contact: +86 139 1165 1353
• Website: http://www.hdemontferrand.com

About Hadrien de Monteferrand Art Gallery:

One of Beijing’s leading contemporary galleries, Hadrien de Montferrand Gallery is the first in China to exclusively show contemporary works on paper. Through its exhibitions and unique relationship with international collectors, the Gallery promotes contemporary masters and emerging artists alike.  

Website: www.hdemontferrand.com/

BJ Design Week: Do the ‘Design Hop’ on Dashilar Alley

An incredibly interesting and historic street lined with various shops, restaurants and cafes, Dashilar Alley is currently featuring 20 different exhibitions and events from around the world.

“This is all a part of an effort to bring a renewed public awareness to Dashilar that, it is hoped, will help transform the area in a more sensitive, organic way. The aim is to attract Beijing’s creative community to the neighborhood while respecting, and engaging with, the local community population, historic urban fabric and rich layering of existing buildings.”

Many of these exhibitions have taken over vacant storefronts and other spaces are taken over by temporary artist installations and cafes, alongside pop-up shops from leading brands and independent boutiques.

Two of my favorite spaces in Dashilar Alley include: Wuhao Curated Design and Fashion Shop’s temporary take-over of an old brothel turned teahouse (located on Zhujia Hutong Alley) and also the former electrical relay factory showcasing various young talents from China and abroad (FEI Space with exclusive pop-up collaboration of Topshop and Topman collections, AnyShopStyle.com launching with London-based Chinese designer Yang Du and designers Ran and Manchit Au), with live music and entertainment throughout.

FEI Space: Featuring Topshop & Topman

AnyShopStyle.com Launch with Designer Yang Du

candy&caviar on AnyShopStyle.com

Tonight (Saturday, Oct. 1) is Time Out’s Readers’ Party featuring live hip-hop, pop-up photography, art and video installations and 5RMB beers courtesy of Rickshaw Roasters Cafe.

Take a LumDimSum Tour of Dashitar Alley’s Design Hop:

Dashilar Alley Lined with Exhibitions and Events

Introducing Nicholas Hanna’s Water Calligraphy Device:

Inspired by the Chinese custom of writing calligraphy in public spaces, this flat-bead tricycle is a ubiquitous form of transportation in Beijing that releases droplets of water, deposited in patterns to form Chinese characters. INCREDIBLE.

Chinese actress Zhou Xun created this exhibition with Design Week’s curator Aric Chen.  One of my favorite bits of The Factory, it’s a wonderful snapshot of life in Dashilan over the last century, explained through every day objects (colorful art sponsored by Diesel).

.

WUHAO @ The Teahouse:

Wuhao and Tranquil Tuesdays’ pop up teahouse is housed in a derelict brothel on Zhujia Hutong (off Dashilar Xijie), that hasn’t been used  for 100 years. An amazing space and a great place to sip tea while browsing through beautiful clothing, accessories and furniture designs.

For all you foodies who might be wondering where to eat, I hear the homemade tacos are a must-try at the Kupa Studio’s pop-up cafe/bar. The same designers of Susu, Apothecary, etc. are sure to impress with both drinks and snacks!  Unfortunately, I missed out on these tacos as we arrived a bit late and ended up eating at another popular restaurant called Wonderwater Cafe, a conceptual takeover of a local restaurant encouraging diners to consider their “water footprint” when ordering food.  We tried to follow their advice and order more veggies and less “water-consuming” dishes, but the restaurant was entirely sold out of all greens!  I guess diners really were considering their water footprint at this cafe!

LDS Links:

Check out more information on Dashilar Alley’s Design Hop by clicking here - 

• Time Out Beijing’s Fashion Pop-Up
• WUHAO @ The Teahouse
• Dashilar Alley on Weibo
• AnyShopStyle.com
• Beijing Design Week Website
• Kupa Studio’s Pop-Up Cafe/Bar

Happy Hopping at Dashilar Alley!

Support Magic Hospital: Beijing ABC’s Kids Book

 “Laughter is the Best Medicine.”

Richard Robinson is a long time friend and Beijing expat who has a passion for sharing laughter through means of entertainment (he’s co-founder and producer of Chopschticks comedy shows and plays) and writing children’s books.

Beijing ABC’s is his first book, which he created to bring smiles and laughter to children through educational books with ALL proceeds being donated directly to Magic Hospital. Featuring simply adorable illustrations by Ren Fengmian, this will make a great gift for kids of all ages.

“At 52-pages and full-color, it’s filled with fun rhymes and illustrations. As a bonus it features some Chinese words in both character and pinyin format making it both a fun and educational read for the whole family!” 

With each book at RMB 88, just remember: ALL proceeds of this book go directly to Magic Hospital!

To order a copy of Beijing ABC’s, please contact Magic Hospital’s fundraising manager – fundraising@magichospital.org or communications@magichospital.org.

Some Snapshots of Beijing ABC’s Book:

Background Info for Magic Hospital:

Magic Hospital strives to help in the healing of sick, abused, neglected and  orphaned children by restoring an element of fun in their day. They design and implement activities and programs for those children who are temporarily or permanently deprived of a carefree childhood.  

“Bringing fun and laughter to children across China”

Magic Hospital Website:  http://www.magichospital.org/

Sept. 26-Oct.3: Beijing Design Week 2011

“To consider design is to consider the world and almost everything in it.  Designers can illuminate the soul and explore why we act the way we do.” – James Wilkinson, Time Out Beijing

During Beijing Design Week, there is a whole lot going on.  There isn’t quite a published schedule of events yet, but you can be sure to get the following:

• More than 130 different activities will be launched
• More than 30 international events
• Over 90 Chinese exhibitions
• Festival venues include about 100 design landmarks in Beijing, such as Tsinghua University, Yonghe Park, China Design Market, Dashilar, 751D•PARK, and Sanlitun Village
• More than 60 famous brands will be involved
• 800 international designers will be coming to Beijing

There are things going on all over the city, but a highlight is definitely Time Out Beijing’s Fashion Pop-up Shop.

Time Out Fashion Pop-Up Shop Features:

1. Beijing Past & Present Design Competition limited edition gift shop

2. Time Out Beijing (Chinese version) fashion photography exhibition

3. Time Out Beijing fashion expert talks at the Rickshaw Roasters Café area

4. Launch of online fashion boutique AnyShopStyle.com

5. Showroom of Dongliang Studio’s new A/W ‘11 collections

6. Exclusive China launch of UK retail giant Topshop and showcase of further Topman collections, in collaboration with FEI Space

7. Time Out Beijing Readers’ Party on Saturday 1 October

Check out Time Out Beijing for the inside scoop on what-not-to-miss this week here.

Beijing Design Week Info:

• Dates: September 26 – October 3
• Beijing Design Week Organizing Committee Contact Details:
  • Address: 13th Floor, Block A, Gehua Tower, No.1 Qinglong Hutong, Dongcheng District
  • Tel: 010-84186996
  • Email: info@bjdw.org
  • Website: www.bjdw.org

China’s Brightest Artists: The Creator’s Project 2011

Spanning three days and bringing together some of China’s brightest creative minds, alongside innovative artists and musicians from overseas, The Creator’s Project is back in Beijing from September 15-18 in the world famous 798 Art District partnering with UCCA gallery.

For 3 days straight, you can have your fill of music, film and art.

MUSIC: They will be hosting performances by Mount Kimbie, Supermarket, PK14, Glasser, Optimo and Zhang Shouwang of the famed Chinese indie rock band Carsick Cars.

FILM: They will also be premiering a selection of shorts by Ray Lei, a new film by Peng Lei, Runscape by Map Office, Spike Jonze and Arcade Fire’s Scenes from the Suburbs, and Logorama by H5.

ART:  All weekend, we’ll have a wide variety of interactive installations on display including new work from Aaajiao, Francis Lam (aka DbDbking) and Joao Vasco Paiva, Feng Mengbo’s brand new Bruce Lee VJ Project, Life on Mars Revisitedby David Bowie, Mick Rock and Barney Clay and Room With A View by UVA.

Click here for full rundown of performances, installations, film screenings and workshops and panels.

To RSVP for The Creator’s Project, please click here and sign  yourself up!

Here’s what went down at The Creator’s Project 2010.

The Creator’s Project Event Details:

• Date: September 15-18, 2011
• Time: Throughout each day
• Addresses:
  • For musical performances:
    • 798 Space: 4 Jiuxianqiao Road Chaoyang District, Beijing China
  • For exhibitions, panels and films:
    • UCCA: 798 Art District, No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District Beijing, China 100015
• Website: http://www.thecreatorsproject.com/events/the-creators-project-beijing-2011

‘Red Memory’ on Display at The Opposite House

“Chen Wenling’s distinctive sculptures evoke an intensity that reflects his own life-embracing personality and an unflinching look at his environment.”

Inspired by the innocent and carefree children playing in the Chinese countryside, “Red Memory” is a series of sculptures created by Chen Wenling. Made of bronze and auto-grade paint “drenched in his signature fire-engine car duco red is a testament of the artist’s fiery attitude towards life”.

Presented by Red Gate Gallery, the installation will be on display in the atrium of The Opposite House until mid-September 2011.

“The glossy figures with an emboldened blend of cheeky expressions and arresting poses are a celebratory call to embrace the inner child in everyone.”

- Anthony Ross, GM of Swire Hotel Group

LumDimSum Snapshots of Red Memory by Chen Wenling:

The Opposite House

Building 1, No.11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing China 100027

Tel: +86 10 6417 6688

www.theoppositehouse.com

UCCA’s Hungry Eyes: Satisfy Your Art & Culture Cravings

This week is Member’s Week, hence the fact that UCCA has got a ton of well-thought-out activities and programs from special tours of art areas to this Wednesday’s “Hungry Eyes” Event. This one just happened to catch my eye as a meaningful and worthwhile art event…and the event includes a complete means to satisfy  your cravings for art, culture AND tummy.

Head out to 798 Art District for both a floor talk and tour of targeted exhibitions led by the members of UCCA’s curatorial department and also, an intimate lunch at SWITCH!

Click here for a list of the exhibitions that will be featuring in their tour.

“Gain a fuller understanding of our currently exhibiting artists and their work with this special behind the scenes opportunity.”

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, August 17, 2011
• Time: 12:00-13:30
• Fee:  UCCA Members RMB 60, RMB 100 for non-members
• Location: SWITCH!
• Address: 酒仙桥路4号798 艺术区北京8503
• RSVP Required: members@ucca.org.cn
• Event Website: Click here.

UCCA: Rong Rong Gives You the Real Caochangdi

“The genius of Caochangdi is that it has the sort of DNA for a ‘vibrant city. It should be looked at and seen as a laboratory for the future. Caochangdi has the ability and energy to keep transforming itself and to keep evolving and accomplish what the city is really after.”

- Robert Mangurian, professor at the Southern California Institute of Architecture and established B.A.S.E. Studios in Caochangdi in 2006

Dubbed by The New York Times as “the frontier for Chinese art”, Caochangdi is really just  a small urban village outside the Fifth Ring Road occupying less than a square kilometer, but it’s on the Beijing map as its foremost art zone destination (surpassing 798 Art District even).

This Sunday, August 14, UCCA has organized an insiders’ walking tour of Beijing’s  Caochangdi art district for all interested in getting a more personable tour of Caochangdi’s community of artists, designers, curators and gallerists.  Led by celebrated artist Rong Rong, he will lead a tour of this unique art zone stopping at key galleries and finishing with afternoon tea and a private introduction of his own venue, Three Shadows Photography Art Centre.

Designed by renowned artist and architect Ai Weiwei, Three Shadows Photography Art Centre is a non-profit art centre in Beijing established in 2007 by photographers RongRong and Inri.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, August 14, 2011
• Time: 15:00-17:00
• Fee:  Members Fee is free, but RMB 100 for non-members
• Location: Three Shadows Photography and Arts Centre
• Address: 三影堂摄影艺术中心, 北京市朝阳区草场地155号, 邮编 100015
• Tel: + 86 10 6432 2663
• RSVP Required: members@ucca.org.cn
• Website: http://www.threeshadows.cn/
• Event Website: Click here.

About Rong Rong:

Rong Rong lives and works in Beijing. One of China’s most renowned photographers, he was heavily involved with China’s early contemporary art scene in Beijing’s East Village in the 1990s. He rose to prominence through an early series of hauntingly poetic and socially conscious works., many of which were documenting this period. His marriage to wife Inri in 2000 marked the start of an important artistic partnership that continues to present day. He founded the Three Shadows Center for Photography in 2007, establishing an important platform for young and emerging photographers throughout China.

Putting A ‘Spin’ On It

It’s happening…I’ve reached that point in my life when everyone I know is starting to get married…lucky for me, Spin Ceramics has been my savior for every wedding I’ve been invited to thus far.  Spin Ceramics has really been a gem of a find and I want to share this incredible store with my LumDimSum friends.

With beautiful ceramic art design with traditional Chinese touch, these pieces are all as beautiful as they are exquisite and unique. Featuring designs by a group of talented Shanghainese artists, you can see the different faces who are behind each of these masterpieces. With a trend towards innovative Japanese style, they offer everything from beautiful tea sets to Japanese sake sets, bowls, giant coffee mugs, vases and original serving platters.  And an added bonus – everything is reasonably priced and with every purchase, they provide simple, yet elegant gift wrapping with all purchases, Spin Ceramics is your answer if you are in the search for gifts that are not only practical, but original and exquisitely beautiful.

Spin Ceramics Contact Details:

• Address: Across from Element Fresh in Lido, 6 Fangyuan Xi Lu Chaoyang  朝阳区芳园西路6号
• Tel: 6437 8649
• Email: spinceramics@126.com

LumDimSum Snapshots of Spin Ceramics:

Paper Terrestrials “Landing Series” Launch Event

“The Paper Terrestrials series is truly awesome. We have worked with some of the most exciting artists from across China, and the prints look totally rock ‘n’ roll.”

Paper Terrestrials will be launching with a gallery show and launch party  this coming Saturday, July 23 from 5-9PM at tSpace.

Debuting a series of limited edition silk screen prints, the Summer 2011 Paper Terrestrials “Landing” Series includes works by Yan Wei, Ray Lei, Tang Yan, Nod Young and Chairman Ca.

“All our works are archival, hand-pulled silk screen prints using high quality inks on 300g, 100% cotton-fiber, neutral Ph, acid-free, imported Somerset and Arches printmaking paper.”

“Vivisection” by Yan Wei

“Characteristic of Yan Wei’s work,Vivisection exhibits consummate line work, dripping contours, an unearthly kid and a touch of gore.”

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, 23 July 2011
• Time: 5-9PM
• Location: tSpace
• Address: 9 Yuxin Street, Xuanwu District
• Contact: gallery@paper-t.com
• Website: http://www.paper-t.com/

Works on Paper: Cai Jin’s Exhibition Opening Party

This Saturday, July 9, Hadrien de Montferrand Gallery will be hosting the opening of their newest art exhibition – “Cai Jin: Works on Paper” from 3:00PM-6:00PM at their gallery in 798 Art District.

Exhibited widely including the Chicago Museum of Arts, the Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art, the Today Art Museum, Cai Jing’s works have been part of prestigious collections including Ullens, Sigg, and the National Art Museum of China.

Cai Jin is known for her “Bananaplants Series”. For this series, Cai Jin used the same and unique palette of red and purple to depict the contradiction between the growing energy of the plant and its inevitable decomposition.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, 9 July 2011
• Time: 3-6PM
• Location: Hadrien de Monteferrand Gallery
• Address:  798 Art District,  Next to At Cafe; No 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu Chaoyang District
• Contact: +86 139 1165 1353
• Website: http://www.hdemontferrand.com

About Hadrien de Monteferrand Art Gallery:

One of Beijing’s leading contemporary galleries, Hadrien de Montferrand Gallery is the first in China to exclusively show contemporary works on paper. Through its exhibitions and unique relationship with international collectors, the Gallery promotes contemporary masters and emerging artists alike.