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British artist David Hockney's outdoor installation at M Woods.
The art village of Caochangdi has earned its hip reputation among local art enthusiasts, but it's facing imminent threats of demolition and redevelopment from the state.
Artist-curator Peng Xiaoyang has set up a tiny exhibition space in Beijing's WeWork offices.
An art collective of nine new art graduates took over and lived in de Art Center for an avante-garde and baffling performance piece.
New Zealand artist Ben R Clement resided in I Project Space in collaboration with Creative New Zealand.
Featuring top galleries such as PACE, art and lifestyle destination 798 Art Zone is the reigning jewel of Beijing's art scene.
Anish Kapoor's grand solo exhibition at Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum celebrated his most outstanding works over the last 35 years.
Chinese artist Zhou Yan transformed The Bunker into a LAN shop.
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British artist David Hockney's outdoor installation at M Woods.
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  • /
  • 08
The art village of Caochangdi has earned its hip reputation among local art enthusiasts, but it's facing imminent threats of demolition and redevelopment from the state.
  • 03
  • /
  • 08
Artist-curator Peng Xiaoyang has set up a tiny exhibition space in Beijing's WeWork offices.
  • 04
  • /
  • 08
An art collective of nine new art graduates took over and lived in de Art Center for an avante-garde and baffling performance piece.
  • 05
  • /
  • 08
New Zealand artist Ben R Clement resided in I Project Space in collaboration with Creative New Zealand.
  • 06
  • /
  • 08
Featuring top galleries such as PACE, art and lifestyle destination 798 Art Zone is the reigning jewel of Beijing's art scene.
  • 07
  • /
  • 08
Anish Kapoor's grand solo exhibition at Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum celebrated his most outstanding works over the last 35 years.
  • 08
  • /
  • 08
Chinese artist Zhou Yan transformed The Bunker into a LAN shop.

Culture | Art and Design

Art in Beijing, China: These independent studios, galleries, and museums are redefining the city's historic districts

Intrepid nature

Text: Aravin Sandran


You would never expect to discover an independent art gallery within a former government compound, but that's exactly where you'll find not one but two of founder Peng Xiaoyang's alternative spaces. The Bunker takes the form of a blacked-out underground basement in the Duan Qirui Former Government Building while apartment-turned-residency DRC No. 12 is situated within Sanlitun's Diplomatic Residence Compound building.

When I visited, The Bunker was exhibiting Chinese artist Zhou Yan's 'No Quarter', which involved rigging the entire space into a LAN shop. Visitors were tasked with playing a custom version of the first-person shooter game Counterstrike with the goal of taking out General Yasuji Okamura, the infamous wartime occupant of The Bunker.

The Bunker isn't the only art space pushing the boundaries of art appreciation in the city, though. I've rounded up the hottest independent studios, galleries, and museums that are worth a visit in the gallery above.

Buro. recommends

Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum, cafamuseum.org

Wyoming Project, wyomingproject.net

Telescope, telescope-beijing.com

798 Art Zone, mafengwo.cn

M Woods, mwoods.org

Special thanks to Ami Tsou of The Opposite House.

 

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