State of the Arts: Spittoon's Return and Beijing's Best Ongoing Art Exhibitions
State of the Arts is our regular arts column wherein we take a look at the newest moves in Beijing's creative scene and highlight art news as well as exhibitions, artists, and openings that you should seek out.
Jul 9: Spittoon's Fiction Night
After a lengthy COVID-induced hiatus, made worse by the "second wave" (which was really more of a ripple than a wave), Spittoon's monthly fiction night returns and with any luck, they'll be able to continue unabated forevermore. Due to restrictions on large gatherings, the night can only accommodate 25 folks, and you must register via Camera Stylo's WeChat account (ID: camerastylo). Nevertheless, the night is sure to be filled with lots of creative brains, booze, and general hobnobbery. Free. 8pm-late. Camera Stylo.
Until Jul 25: Forgotten Letters
As a Chinese artist living and working in New York, Chen Dongfan sits at the intersection of multiple complex social crises resulting from the spread of COVID-19. On the surface, New York's lockdown was an obvious burden on the busy artist, however, it also became an opportunity to rethink the relationship between art, self, and society. The result is an astonishing 80-plus pieces of work, small in size and drawn on the deceptively light and thin, yet altogether tough Chinese-style paper. Largely symbolic and fantastical, the work speaks to our current reality, a disjointed mass of imagination and hyper-absurdity. Free. Tue-Sun, 11am-6pm. dRoom - Platform China.
Until Jul 27: A Walk To Remember
To say that, as of late, our existence has been bewildering and increasingly at odds with what we thought we knew about life would be an understatement, and artist Zhenglu is responding to this new phenomenon by creating a fully immersive experience that places the viewer deep inside a confounding, dreamlike environment. The massive spatial installation is beautifully tailored to the physical dimensions of Spurs Gallery and aims to foster a dialogue between people, matter, and space. Free. Tue-Sat, 11am-6pm. Spurs Gallery.
Until Sep 20: Despite Myself, This Sentient Body
Bringing together various mediums and artistic styles including digital art, installation, photography, and sculpture, Sense Space's first show, Even If Even Though will be a narrative exhibition told in three phases. The first phase, Despite Myself, This Sentient Body examines the inherent struggle to retain some semblance of reason while dangling on the edge of chaos. Front and center in this meditation: the resilience and emotional strength of the individual throughout history. Free. Tue-Sun, 10am-6pm. Sense Space.
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Images: courtesy of Spittoon, dRoom, Spurs Gallery, Sense Space
