Gallery Weekend Beijing: Exhibitions feature contemporary art

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As the second Gallery Weekend Beijing is underway, be ready for Beijing's most important contemporary art exhibition of the year. Over 22 galleries and organizations are participating in the event which takes place at 798 and the Caochangdi international Art District.

This year's Gallery Weekend Beijing features a series of exhibitions and activities. It's a showcase for the development of contemporary art in China.

"Art Trash" by Tong Kunniao. /Photo from China's Artist and Platform.

After a strict selection, 18 galleries and four non-profits institutions are taking part. Works from over 60 artists are on display, including Chinese artists Liu Gangshun and Zhujinshu, as well as some well-known international artists, like Paul McCarthy and Richard Deacon.

"Gallery Weekend Beijing has become a very important platform in China for creating connections between the Chinese art world and the international art world," said Philip Tinari, director of Ullens Center for Contemporary art.

"So you have many of the top institutions and art galleries here presenting shows some with Chinese artists some with international artists. And you have all kinds of people, from local Beijing residents quite important international museum directors, collectors from China and from beyond focusing on the work that we do," he added.

Post for one of the exhibitions. /Photo provided by ‍Gallery Weekend Beijing

There will also be many art communication activities. Dozens of dialogues and forums will be held by participating galleries on their exhibitions and the current status of China's contemporary art.

"We want to show the world China's most cutting-edge contemporary art. In the future, we hope this event can become one of the most popular art event in the world," said Wang Yanling, founder of 798 international Art District.

Post for one of the exhibitions. /Photo provided by ‍Gallery Weekend Beijing

The Gallery Weekend Beijing also focuses on building a bridge between art and public spaces. This year features a new public art program where nine outdoor works are on display, and four are co-presented by participating galleries.

The "Gallery Weekend" mode is rather new for China, but it has already become a tradition for art communication in many countries, such as Germany, France and Spain. It helps audiences to have a systematic understanding of the works. The event opens to the public from Sunday to March 30.