Star Chinese artist opens studio as free public space

World
Europe

Huang Rui, one of the founding members of the Chinese contemporary art movement, raised a lot of eyebrows when he relocated his studio from Beijing’s fashionable 798 Art Zone to a dusty suburb last year. But the building he moved into has just been opened to the public as surely one of the city’s most attractive art spaces.

Situated in Jiangtai County in northeast Beijing, Huang Rui Cloud House contains many of Huang’s works and also serves as a community space that is free to enter. It remains the artist’s home and studio.

CGTN Photo

He first identified the 3,000-square-meter building as a suitable site in 2006, when it was a dilapidated shell. He was attracted to Jiangtai because he was fascinated with the area, despite how empty it was at the time.

"I don't like places where too many artists get together because it is time-consuming to deal with all of them. I want to focus on my artistic work," he said.

CGTN Photo

Huang spent 10 years refurbishing the building.

The main part is now made up of historic materials, such as Qing- and Ming-dynasty bricks, as well as wooden frames and stones from demolished Qing-era courtyards.

CGTN Photo

Huang was born and grew up in Beijing and said the city has a special place in his heart: "Beijing has changed a lot in the past decades so I want to collect some of these historic materials such as bricks and sculptures and keep them as part of my art house; this is my way to preserve the relics."

Every inner room of the house opens onto a central courtyard.

CGTN Photo

In many ways, the building itself is rather simple and industrial. But Huang has prettified it with not only his art but his extensive collection of 20th-century furniture.

Every quarter, cultural activities will be held here.

"No matter what my art house will turn into, an educational base or an exchange center, I hope it will act as a conduit in promoting the city's development," Huang said.