Let’s check in with Beijing. The city’s importance as an arts destination keeps growing, as shown last year when Beijing’s National Museum nearly ousted the Louvre as the world’s most-attended art institution. It drew a whopping eight million visitors at its Tiananmen Square location! But enough about museums. Beijing’s local galleries are worthy of a trip on their own, so here’s a sample of what’s on view at the moment.
Head to DE SARTHE GALLERY for the retro-futurist solo show of artist Mak Ying Tung 2, titled “The Anything Machine.” The exhibition futures five bodies of work, included collaged images that resemble religious icons—but exalting modest electronics like an original Nintendo, a discman, or a Tamagotchi as holy relics, instead. Then, make your way to ShanghART Beijing, which features a show presented in coordination with Postmasters Gallery in New York of the work of American-Chinese abstract painter David Diao. Here, he examines his artistic predecessors like Kazimir Malevich and Barnett Newman, unpacking their visual tropes in a series of new, witty paintings. For a great group show, visit N3 Contemporary Art for “Shanghai Painters,” exhibiting the work of six different artists whose works range the full gamut of abstract to figurative.
Find artnet’s full list of picks below, and better hurry—some of these shows are coming to a close this weekend.
Yu Xiao, Roll No 1 (2017). Courtesy of Beijing Art Now Gallery.
Exhibition: “Yu Xiao: Unseen Paintings”
When: May 19–July 7, 2018
Where: Beijing Art Now Gallery, Building E, Red Yard No.1 Cao Chang Di, Beijing, China
“Blooming” installation view. Courtesy of Aura Gallery.
Exhibition: “Blooming 花开富贵”
When: June 9–July 8, 2018
Where: Aura Gallery, A1 Qikeshu Creative Park, No. 55 Banjieta Road, Beijing, China
Ye Linghan. Courtesy of Boers-Li Gallery.
Exhibition: “Lucy Episode II: Dance, Tattoo, Data Carnival”
When: May 26–July 8, 2018
Where: Boers-Li Gallery, No.2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District D-06, Beijing, China
Mak Ying Tung 2, Relic (Nokia) (2018). Courtesy of DE SARTHE GALLERY.
Exhibition: “The Anything Machine”
When: May 26–July 22, 2018
Where: DE SARTHE GALLERY, 328-D Caochangdi, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
Ma Shuqing, Untitled (2018). Courtesy of Asia Art Center.
Exhibition: “Overlaying and Repeating: Ma Shuqing”
When: June 9–July 22, 2018
Where: Asia Art Center, No.2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
David Diao, Hiding in Plain Sight (2018). Courtesy of ShanghART Beijing.
Exhibition: “David Diao: Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”
When: May 24–July 24, 2018
Where: ShanghART Beijing, 261 Cao Chang Di, Old Airport Road, Beijing, China
Zhang Kai. Courtesy of Triumph Art Space.
Exhibition: “Present: Zhang Kai Solo Exhibition”
When: June 23–July 31, 2018
Where: Triumph Art Space, A-05 798 Art District, No. 2 JiuXianQiao Road, Beijing, China
“Shanghai Painters” installation view. Courtesy of N3 Contemporary Art.
Exhibition: “Shanghai Painters”
When: June 9–August 12, 2018
Where: N3 Contemporary Art, 706 North 3rd Street, Jiuxianqiao Road, Beijing, China
“Michelangelo Pistoletto: Oltre Lo Specchio” installation view. Courtesy of Galleria Continua.
Exhibition: “Michelangelo Pistoletto: Oltre Lo Specchio”
When: June 23–October 21, 2018
Where: Galleria Continua, Dashanzi Art District 798 #8503, 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Beijing, China