Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Beijng Report - May 2007 Paula Payne
Remarkable Australians Witness and Shape History
During my most recent stay in Beijing May/June 2007, I was once again hosted by
two remarkable Australians I know from Red Gate Galleries.
Brian Wallace, the Director of Red Gate, who arrived in Beijing two decades ago
to study Chinese Language, and later art history has now been living and working
in Beijing for 22years and was a pioneer in the development of Chinese
contemporary arts both in Beijing and internationally. And Tony Scott, Special
Projects Manager and artist who has collaborated with Brian Wallace
for 14 years instigating and developing projects for the galleries and beyond. Tony
also now resides and works full time in Beijing.
Brian Wallace is the Director of, Red Gate at the watchtower, which in 2006
celebrated its 15th anniversary and Red Gate/ 798 gallery at Dashanzi art district.
In 2001 Red Gate introduced a visiting artists program for international artists and
currently manages up to ten residencies at any one time. The Dongbianmen
Watchtower, a 500 year old Ming Dynasty building is the only remaining
watchtower from the original inner city wall of Peking, whilst the Red Gate/ 798
gallery that opened in December 2005 in the Dashanzi art precinct has become an
integral part of the largest International Arts Centre in Beijing.
The de-commissioned military electronics factory at Dashanzi, was discovered by
artists looking for spaces in 2001 and the galleries, shops and cafes followed. Many
the factory spaces at Dashanzi were built by East German architects in the Bauhaus
style in the early 50s as a gift to the Chinese Government and are stunning as
contemporary art venues. Situated on the outskirts of Beijing, Dashanzi is on the way
to the airport and hosts a huge International arts festival each year in May. As of
September 2008 a second festival will be held throughout the many new and existing
arts venues across Beijing.
Dashanzi, has been heralded as the new New York of contemporary arts and
now hosts over two hundred contemporary art galleries in a variety of sizes and
locations that display everything from painting, photography, video art, large
installations, performance and new works ranging from cutting edge to commercial.
Leading galleries including, Chinese Contemporary Arts Centre, The Longmarch
Project, White space, Galleria Continua, Beijing 798, Tang Contemporary Art,
Pickled Arts Centre, Red Gate / 798 to name but a few, all operate in an International
context procuring a steady flow of dealers and buyers who invest and trade in Chinese
contemporary art which sells at high prices on a variety of national and international
markets.
On May 26th Red Gate / 798 hosted an exhibition called Lhasa New Art From Tibet,
which showcased contemporary Tibetan art. I not only had the good fortune to be
present at this time, but also, to be involved with
the Tibetan artists and the curators of the exhibition. Tony Scott, and
Leigh Sangster, a Fulbright scholar from USA. Leigh was completing her Doctorate
at the Emery University Atlanta, with a focus on cultural memory and anthropology.
Tony and Leigh had both been working on curating and travelling the exhibition to
Beijing from Lhasa for over a year. Leigh and her husband Jason had been living in
Lhasa for one year and collaborated with both the artists and Tony toward the goals
and success of the project.
This was the first time that Contemporary art from Lhasa has ever been exhibited in Beijing, a
historical moment.
Six of the Tibetan artists from the Gedun Choephel Guild Lhasa stayed in a studio
supplied by Red Gate at the Beigao art district. A number of well reputed Tibetan
art historians, including Claire Harris from Oxford University, art dealer, Fabio Rossi
from London, buyers and consultants gathered in Beijing for the opening of the
exhibition which was a huge success and received critical acclaim through the press in
China and Australia, (re- Sydney Morning Herald article June 2nd ) and record sales
for all of the artists involved.
For many years Lhasa was closed to foreigners but in the last decade has become more
accessible and on July 1st 2006 the Qinghai- Tibet railway was opened and many people
have been flocking to experience the mythical/ mystical Shangri la ever since.
On the 1st of June following the opening of Lhasa New Art From Tibet six of the
Tibetan artists from the Gedun Choephel Guild Lhasa, Tibetan art historian, Claire
Harris, Fabio Rossi and his vast entourage,Pat Hoffie from Griffith University
Brisbane and myself gathered in Beijing to catch the T27 to Lhasa.
Without two remarkable Australians none of this would have been possible- thank you
Paula Payne June 2007
Remarkable Australians Witness and Shape History
During my most recent stay in Beijing May/June 2007, I was once again hosted by
two remarkable Australians I know from Red Gate Galleries.
Brian Wallace, the Director of Red Gate, who arrived in Beijing two decades ago
to study Chinese Language, and later art history has now been living and working
in Beijing for 22years and was a pioneer in the development of Chinese
contemporary arts both in Beijing and internationally. And Tony Scott, Special
Projects Manager and artist who has collaborated with Brian Wallace
for 14 years instigating and developing projects for the galleries and beyond. Tony
also now resides and works full time in Beijing.
Brian Wallace is the Director of, Red Gate at the watchtower, which in 2006
celebrated its 15th anniversary and Red Gate/ 798 gallery at Dashanzi art district.
In 2001 Red Gate introduced a visiting artists program for international artists and
currently manages up to ten residencies at any one time. The Dongbianmen
Watchtower, a 500 year old Ming Dynasty building is the only remaining
watchtower from the original inner city wall of Peking, whilst the Red Gate/ 798
gallery that opened in December 2005 in the Dashanzi art precinct has become an
integral part of the largest International Arts Centre in Beijing.
The de-commissioned military electronics factory at Dashanzi, was discovered by
artists looking for spaces in 2001 and the galleries, shops and cafes followed. Many
the factory spaces at Dashanzi were built by East German architects in the Bauhaus
style in the early 50s as a gift to the Chinese Government and are stunning as
contemporary art venues. Situated on the outskirts of Beijing, Dashanzi is on the way
to the airport and hosts a huge International arts festival each year in May. As of
September 2008 a second festival will be held throughout the many new and existing
arts venues across Beijing.
Dashanzi, has been heralded as the new New York of contemporary arts and
now hosts over two hundred contemporary art galleries in a variety of sizes and
locations that display everything from painting, photography, video art, large
installations, performance and new works ranging from cutting edge to commercial.
Leading galleries including, Chinese Contemporary Arts Centre, The Longmarch
Project, White space, Galleria Continua, Beijing 798, Tang Contemporary Art,
Pickled Arts Centre, Red Gate / 798 to name but a few, all operate in an International
context procuring a steady flow of dealers and buyers who invest and trade in Chinese
contemporary art which sells at high prices on a variety of national and international
markets.
On May 26th Red Gate / 798 hosted an exhibition called Lhasa New Art From Tibet,
which showcased contemporary Tibetan art. I not only had the good fortune to be
present at this time, but also, to be involved with
the Tibetan artists and the curators of the exhibition. Tony Scott, and
Leigh Sangster, a Fulbright scholar from USA. Leigh was completing her Doctorate
at the Emery University Atlanta, with a focus on cultural memory and anthropology.
Tony and Leigh had both been working on curating and travelling the exhibition to
Beijing from Lhasa for over a year. Leigh and her husband Jason had been living in
Lhasa for one year and collaborated with both the artists and Tony toward the goals
and success of the project.
This was the first time that Contemporary art from Lhasa has ever been exhibited in Beijing, a
historical moment.
Six of the Tibetan artists from the Gedun Choephel Guild Lhasa stayed in a studio
supplied by Red Gate at the Beigao art district. A number of well reputed Tibetan
art historians, including Claire Harris from Oxford University, art dealer, Fabio Rossi
from London, buyers and consultants gathered in Beijing for the opening of the
exhibition which was a huge success and received critical acclaim through the press in
China and Australia, (re- Sydney Morning Herald article June 2nd ) and record sales
for all of the artists involved.
For many years Lhasa was closed to foreigners but in the last decade has become more
accessible and on July 1st 2006 the Qinghai- Tibet railway was opened and many people
have been flocking to experience the mythical/ mystical Shangri la ever since.
On the 1st of June following the opening of Lhasa New Art From Tibet six of the
Tibetan artists from the Gedun Choephel Guild Lhasa, Tibetan art historian, Claire
Harris, Fabio Rossi and his vast entourage,Pat Hoffie from Griffith University
Brisbane and myself gathered in Beijing to catch the T27 to Lhasa.
Without two remarkable Australians none of this would have been possible- thank you
Paula Payne June 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
I am about to charge of to Beijing to meet with Tony Scott and work on a tebetan Exhibition with him called ' Lhasa, New Works form Tibet' as well as continue with the Australia China travelling exhibition which opens on the 27th October 2007 in Beijing and is due to travel
through China and home to Australia in 2008.
After the Tibetan exhibition I host a number of the artists who have come down to Beijing and end up on a train with them travelling over the permafrost. Fantastic stuff. See journal.
Craig visits in Beijing and we drink a lot and do the wall as well as the Da shazi art precinct
through China and home to Australia in 2008.
After the Tibetan exhibition I host a number of the artists who have come down to Beijing and end up on a train with them travelling over the permafrost. Fantastic stuff. See journal.
Craig visits in Beijing and we drink a lot and do the wall as well as the Da shazi art precinct
Since the Panorama Exhibition in Newfarm we have also exhibited as a group of artists at the National Taiwan University of Arts and then I proceeded to Beijing China to work on an exhibition in collaboration with Tony Scott from Red Gate Gallery and the Australian Embassy.
Have a look at processjourneys.blogspot.com
I the caught the train to Tibet and experienced Lhasa with my friends Pat Hoffie and her daughter Visaya.
A lot can happen in a short time. It is now the 14th of August an I am in the second week of my solo exhibition at the Tribune st gallery Griffith University.
Have a look at processjourneys.blogspot.com
I the caught the train to Tibet and experienced Lhasa with my friends Pat Hoffie and her daughter Visaya.
A lot can happen in a short time. It is now the 14th of August an I am in the second week of my solo exhibition at the Tribune st gallery Griffith University.
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