Taste and See: ROOM Beijing's Artist Projects with New +1 Space in Pingod

ROOMbeijing and new art space +1 are teaming up to feature exciting new artists, with ROOM dedicating the back area of the restaurant to rotating exhibits of artwork presented by +1, starting with conceptual photography artist Tie Ying.

In its first year, ROOMbeijing has established itself as a hip, fun place for experiments: chef Brian McKenna's Michelin-starred capabilities turn out newfangled dishes, some brilliant (shrimp risotto with avocado ice cream!), some maybe a bit puzzling (white chocolate and coconut spaghetti?).

They've also always had a bent toward visual experimentation, with their Hugo Dalton wall decor, funk-pastel color scheme and splashes of pop art. Perhaps then, it's no surprise that the restaurant would embark on a joint art program with a new private space opening down the road at the Pingod Community: +1 Space, started by Jiayi Li.

Perhaps best known in Beijing for organizing the Chu Teh-Chun retrospective last year at the National Art Museum (NAMOC) - and for co-owning hip hop hotspot Bling - Jiayi is realizing her dream of starting her own private art space.

Tie Ying's recent series, "The World is Yours," will be featured at +1 space along with his other works, and the large poster art that defines the collection is plastered on one of ROOM's circular walls. Across from it is his "Lips and Tongues" (see photo at top of post), a set of paparazzi pics of Chinese celebrities, zoomed in on their mouth areas and photoshopped until they're no longer recognizable - a comment on the parasitic/symbiotic relationship between consumers and the consumed, in a motif fitting for a tongue-in-cheek restaurant.

It's always interesting when art intersects with an unlikely audience. When asked to tell us more about this project just as the lights were dimmed, a DJ warmed up on Lady Gaga tunes and leggy models began populating the floor, the artist noted, "This is a fun, relaxed atmosphere, for parties. It's not the serious feel of an art exhibit." Loosened by the free-flowing wine, he then went on to explain his pieces: "'The World is Yours' is meant to be a protest. If you look at the letters, it also spells "World SOS." We - Chinese, Japanese, American - we think the world belongs to each of us, we're the most important. But really the world is the earth's." The poster's black and white background is a photo from the Japanese tsunami taken on March 11, 2011.

Time will tell how this partnership will work, and what it will mean for a private contemporary art space to intersect with Beijing's foodie and nightlife scene on a monthly basis.

For now, check out Tie Ying's work both at +1 Space in Pingod (Unit 6-078, 22 International Art Street, Pingod, 32 Baiziwan Lu, Chaoyang District; 5826 3407), and at ROOMbeijing until April 30.