Gráfica Real

798 - Beijing Art District: Part II

Kenitchi — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:52:19 +0000

After showing a little snippet of the space that makes up 798, I’d like to post the editors choice of artwork that proliferates in the area. As recently as last year there was a ‘tolerance’ of graffiti and street art. Often, as we have seen in the west, this tolerance can be abused and shortly disappears. The amount of graffiti increases however the quality does not always. Businesses (primarily) can become tired of a lack of consideration or fundamental aesthetics, which leads to a clean up or clamp down on such freedoms.

This is what I believe has occurred in 798. The area was considered by locals a place to be free from constraint to create artwork at ones wish anywhere. This year it was made clear to me the area was a bust, meaning anyone painting in a non-designated area, of which none are clearly known, police will arrest you. It has had an obvious affect on the volume of work on the street.

Overall the standard of graffiti has improved considerably over the last few years, however it seems it is only a handful of artists doing the majority of the work. “Monkey Style” are one of the prolific crews along with a couple of others. Overall the street art and graffiti culture is immature, however it shows strength and creativity as the rules and style of the west have yet had little penetration to the core of the art in Beijing.

Along with the graffiti and street art are some amazing street installations. A window dressing featuring taxidermy dogs in crazy costumes does not seem out of place, a life size installation of a primate stripped mostly of its skin showing bare muscle tissue is also amongst the strange eye candy found in 798.

This is defineitly one of the freshest pieces in Beijing. It has a nice combination of 2D and 3D, proficient hand styles and it has size. The use of Chinese alphabets is one of the first and well executed too. Sadly a lot of artists seek to copy, unsuccessfully, English alphabets. It is refreshing to see the use of the Chinese characters (Hanzi) to emphasize the art of graffiti here.

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Solaris A1 x Savant

Samuel Jesse — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:41:35 +0000

- Page exert from Botobit

Solaris A1 x Savant have teamed up to present the first ever online live artist collaboration to promote the first ever Botobit book. This event will be powered by Colorillo giving every viewer the ability to watch as Botobit artists work together to create an illustration live on your computer screen and YShout 5 allowing all views to chat while the masterpiece is being created.

“Sit back, grab your favorite treat and watch magic at work”

When: Saturday, December 9th from 9:00 pm Eastern Time
Where: solarisa1.savantwear.com

- Page exert from Botobit

TWOONE ‘So Far’ Mixed Media Exhibition - Melbourne NO VACANCY GALLERY PRESENTS: 10th September After the critically acclaimed...

798: Beijing Art District: Part I

Kenitchi — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:41:18 +0000

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.

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Dorophy Tang - Installation Sanlitun, Beijing

Kenitchi — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:01:10 +0000

This life like piece is in part of a new shopping area in Beijing, San Li Tun. The complex was completed last year and as it looks and feels very new they have taken a good initiative to warm it up. The area has quite a busy and bright vibe. The big baby has a real visual impact as you come down the little walkway surrounded by shops.

For more on Dorophy Tang, check her out here….

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Shannon Crees - Rising Australian Street Artist

Samuel Jesse — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:17:02 +0000

I oddly came across Shannon by watching The Apprentice the other night… Not my usually source of inspiration to say the least! But I’m glad I did because damn how sexy are contemporary female artists? Especially when they illustrate sexy women! On a more serious note - you ‘gotta love her use of patterns, colour, and floral elements to compose the structure of her subjects. Its so hot right now!

“The expression found in dictating an emotive, personable subject, and translating this into two dimensions, is the challenge that keeps me so interested” - Shannon Crees

Check out her wonderful portfolio here.

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