A temple to modernism: A local guide to the Red Brick Art Museum

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After one and a half hours subway ride, we arrived at the Red Brick Art Museum, a newly built contemporary museum showcasing exhibitions of Chinese and world art, which was founded by Chinese art collectors Yan Shijie and Cao Mei four years ago.

Covering a total area of 20,000 square meters on the outskirts of Beijing, the Red Brick Art Museum is a folk-based, non-profit institution focusing on the collection, research and exhibition of contemporary art.

The entrance of the Red Brick Art Musuem. /CGTN Photo

As we walk through the arch, we found ourselves standing at the entrance of a red brick world. The grey and red tones implemented in the entrance soften the transition between the outside and inside. It guides us through the building into the main hall which features a sunken circle with “The Loss Compass” hanging above.

The round hall of the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

The unspeakable openness of things (2018) was created only for the Red Brick by Icelandic visual artist Olafur Eliassion, who is now presenting his first solo exhibition here. His extensive exhibit comprises of an array of large-scale immersive installations, sculptures and works on paper, and encompasses the Red Brick’s eight exhibition halls and its garden.

"The unspeakable openness of things" by Olafur Eliasson on display at the Red Brick Art Museum. /CD Photo

Moving through the galleries, we were immersed in a discrete space of all kinds of natural phenomenon, such as water, light, shadow and movement: the erratic rhythm of the Water Pendulum (2010), the patterned shadows of Map for Unthought Thoughts (2014), and the Rainbow Assembly (2016), features light which is refracted through a circular curtain of mist to reveal the visible spectrum.

“Your Sound Galaxy” by Olafur Eliasson on display at the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

“Rainbow Assembly” by Olafur Eliasson on display at the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

“Map for Unthought Thoughts” by Olafur Eliasson on display at the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

“The Water Pendulum” by Olafur Eliasson on display at the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

“Two Unthought Thoughts” by Olafur Eliasson on display at the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

The exhibition “Research and Publications” is organized by Olafur Eliasson. /CGTN Photo

Part of the exhibition held at the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

Guests visit the exhibition at the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

Work by Olafur Eliasson on display at the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

The archive exhibition “Olafur Eliasson: Research and Publications” is presented alongside “The Unspeakable Openness of Things”. On the second floor of the gallery, we saw related monographs, manuscripts, timelines, and photo galleries of Olafur Eliasson, all devoted to help interpret the artist’s works and the ideas behind them.

Why Red Brick Art Museum?

The Red Brick Art Museum is a folk-based, non-profit art museum mainly focused on the collection, research and exhibition of contemporary world and Chinese art. Through a series of orderly and high-quality exhibitions along with collections, research, education, publications and public activities, the museum offers a feasible reference for the operation and development mode of private museums for Chinese Contemporary Art.

The view of the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

What worth mentioning is that French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Museum earlier this year and had high praises for it. Serving as a sole sponsor for the "Sino-French Cultural Spring" activity, the Red Brick Art Museum has made a great contribution to deepen the friendship between the two countries.

Besides Olafur Eliasson’s works, the Red Brick also presents a wide variety of artworks from other renowned artists including Christain Lemmerz, Michael Kvium and Tony Oursler.

The Red Brick Cafe. /CGTN Photo

It’s more than a museum

Using red bricks as the basic architectural element, each brick of the museum seems to tell its own story. In addition, as part of the art museum visiting experience and the extension of the building structure, the landscape courtyard which was designed and built in a specific way, deriving from the Chinese Garden scenic conception, is also a highlight feature within the Red Brick.

The corner of the Red Brick Cafe. /CGTN Photo

Lying just behind the main building of the museum, a garden area featuring some cafes and restaurants is there for visitors to take a short break. Guests who have bought tickets to enter the museum can also take a garden tour to immerse themselves there as well as take some photos.

The garden area in the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

After strolling around for about 2 hours, don’t forget to buy some souvenirs in the gift shop before you go.

The gift shop in the Red Brick Art Museum. /CGTN Photo

Travel Information

Opening hours

From Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

(Except Chinese National Holidays)

Ticket prices

Workdays Admission Fees

Regular Tickets: 120 RMB per person

Discount Tickets: 90 RMB per person (students, disabled and seniors over 65 with valid ID)

Free Admission: Children under 1.2m (should be accompanied by at least one ticketed adult)

Holidays Admission Fees

Regular Tickets: 160 RMB per person

Discount Tickets: 120 RMB per person (students, disabled and seniors over 65 with valid ID)

Free Admission: Children under 1.2m (should be accompanied by at least one ticketed adult)

Tips

Scan the QR code to get an audio guide to the art exhibition in every display halls

Transportation

Take subway line 15 to the Maquanying Station, choose exit B, and then take a 20-minute walk to the entrance of the museum.