Art Attack: Oklahoma! Moves, Bookstore Opens, Exhibits Close and Wanda Buys AMC

Lots of updates for you this weekend. Beijing Playhouse’s production of Oklahoma! hit some bumps in the road last week, but now they’ve got a bigger, more sparkly venue. The new Indigo mall over near 798 is slowly stirring to life, with bookstore Page One opening a new location. Also, we checked out the new hutong gallery Jiali and our colleague says both the space and the current exhibit are beautiful. And of course, many of you have probably heard that Wanda Group is taking over American theater chain AMC (which was the giant in my high school days, but has since fallen into disrepair). Big times ahead for China’s soft power …

For those who enjoy finding hidden gems of art in the hutongs, Jiali Gallery will be a treat. It opened just a couple weeks ago, with a show featuring photography by Inan Wang. But hurry, that exhibit closes this Sunday to make room for a new one coming up.

Ticketholders of Beijing Playhouse’s rendition of old-timey musical Oklahoma! have probably been aware that they were going through some venue troubles that delayed their opening. But now, they’ve secured new homes at both Dayin Theater (in The Place) and the Western Academy of Beijing. The two shows this weekend (Sat 7.30pm and Sun 2.30pm) will be at Dayin. For more info, call their ticket hotline (6538 4716).

The new Indigo mall (also a Swire property, aka the same guys who are swimming in giant pools of cash due to Sanlitun Village, Opposite House and Village North) is slowly blooming. As always, we’ll keep you updated on the restaurants, shops and all opening up in there. But we just got word that Page One bookstore is opening a new location there. More places to get books is always a good thing.

Speaking of which, the Summer Cinema series kicked of with a bang at The Bookworm last night with a packed-out screening of The Artist. Two more shows are coming up in June (The Seven Year Itch on June 7 and Bringing Up Baby on June 21), so get your calendars square so you can enjoy summer fun on the rooftop.

And of course, many of you might have read that Wanda Group has officially bought the AMC Theater chain in the U.S. The architects behind this deal are probably still celebrating, as this is surely a huge step in the CCP’s plan to take over the world using “soft power.” How will this affect film distribution in the U.S.? No clue yet, but if anyone’s keeping tabs on which fictional futuristic dystopia the world is actually headed for, I’d say it’s moves like this that put us squarely on the path to Firefly. Jing Daily has a full story here.

As usual, details for things to keep you busy this week are below, including sexy UK ballroom dance sensations Burn the Floor, a used book sale at The Bookworm and a combination Spanish cooking and cinema event. Not to mention, we FINALLY caught The Avengers last weekend. If you haven't seen it yet, you should. Heck, we might go again.

Have fun out there.

EVENTS THIS WEEK:

May 25-26
Dance: Burn the Floor
This British ballroom group sizzles in skimpy outfits, bare chests and risqué moves. RMB 180-680. 7.30pm. Beijing Exhibition Theater (6835 4455)

May 26
Bookworm Book Sale
The dog-eared copy of Twilight can be yours, for as little as RMB 10. Other genres available, too. Free. The Bookworm (6586 9507)

Frankfurt Radio Bigband
The celebrated German jazz ensemble take on the swingin’ sounds of Duke Ellington. RMB 180-680. 7.30pm. NCPA (6655 0000)

May 27
Food, Film & Friends: Spain
Will there be paella? Or will you have to settle for the lovely Penelope Cruz in Pedro Almodóvar’s Volver? RMB 240, RMB 200 (members), RMB 30 (screening only). 5pm (cooking), 7.30pm (screening). The Hutong (159 0104 6127)

Art Exhibit LAST CALLS:

Inan Wang
Until May 27. Beautiful photography in a stunning new hutong gallery. Free. Jiali Gallery (8402 5613)

Guest: Standing on the Shoulders of Little Clowns
Until May 27. Curated by well-established art co-op MadeIn Company, this show by artist group Guest is an installation in the form of an interactive circus. Could an art exhibit be any more fun? RMB 15. UCCA (5780 0200)

Jennifer Wen Ma: Hanging Garden in Ink
Until May 27. A lush canopy of live plants with their leaves painted in traditional Chinese ink makes you feel you’ve walked onto a scroll. RMB 15. UCCA (5780 0200)

Gu Dexin: The Important Thing Is Not the Meat
Until May 27. Rotting fruit, a sea of plastic and fantastic paintings make up this retrospective
of one of China’s most important avant-garde artists (see Feature, p48). RMB 15, free (students with ID, members). UCCA (8459 9269)

FRAC Collection: 30th Anniversary
Until May 31. France’s Regional Fund for Contemporary Art celebrates 30 years of crucial art funding with a special exhibit of rare photos and videos from its collection. Part of Caochangdi PhotoSpring. Free. China Art Archives and Warehouse (8456 5152)

Jean-Christian Bourcart: Camden
Until May 31. A closer look at Camden, New Jersey – the most dangerous city in America. Part of Caochangdi PhotoSpring. Free. C-Space (5127 3248)

Stefen Chow and Lin Hui-Yi: The Poverty Line
Until May 31. Photographs of what a day’s wages can buy in different parts of the world in an exploration of global poverty. Part of Caochangdi PhotoSpring. Free. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (6432 2663)

Le Chambre Claire
Until Jun 2. Five Chinese artists explore the role photography plays in art with new experimental works and installations. Free. Taikang Space (5127 3173)

Chen Ke’s Red Road
Until Jun 3. The painter known for her “cute” aesthetic grows up with this first solo show. Free. Red Gate Gallery (6525 1005)

MORE ART EXHIBITS:

Beyond Words: Photography from the New Yorker
Until Jun 10. Images from 1890-2010 that have decorated the pages of one of the world’s most-read magazines. Part of Caochangdi PhotoSpring. RMB 15. UCCA (8459 9269)

Bring Me the Head Of …
May 12-Jun 12. Artist Serkan Ozkaya has created a pate shaped like a little bear’s head. You order it off Capital M’s menu, then consume the “artwork” you’ve just purchased. Available at lunch and dinner only. Capital M (6702 2727; see Dining directory)

Transcendence: The 2012 Three Shadows Photography Award
Until Jun 15. Hundreds of young photographers submitted nearly 10,000 works. See the finalists in this exhibit. Part of Caochangdi PhotoSpring. Free. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (6432 2663)

Luo Mingjun: Dust
Until Jul 3. Earthy yet ethereal new works from the woman who’s brought you huge paper boats and text printed on shot glasses. Free. Pekin Fine Arts (5127 3220)

I See China
Until Jul 3. Colin Chinnery, Zhao Liang, Wang Chuan and a host of others join in for Caochangdi PhotoSpring. Free. Pekin Fine Arts (5127 3220)

Photos: Amirahdoot.wordpress.com, courtesy of Beijing Playhouse