Art Attack: Free Movie Tickets and UCCA Members’ Week

We’re pushing through this muggy month with some exciting deals: the UCCA is hosting its first-ever Members’ Week, with a weeklong cache of exciting events to attend, including tea with Rong Rong of Three Shadows and a guided tour of the UCCA followed by lunch deals at Switch!, their adjoined cafe. This time, non-members are invited to attend as well, with a great membership deal as incentive. Steakhouse Flamme is also offering up free Megabox tickets to our readers. Details below!

Below you’ll find the schedule for the UCCA Members’ Week events. Besides the aforementioned, events also include a walking tour of Caochangdi with artist and photographer Rong Rong (followed by tea), a catch-up with ten of the young artists from the “Curated by … “ series, a TUNI bag design workshop, French road movies on Friday night and the Saturday premiere of Moon Palace, the new film by local indie director Qiu Jiongjiong.

Most are free for members, and RMB 100 for non-members (though film screening nights are just RMB 15). Non-members who attend at least five of these events will get free UCCA membership for a year (usually RMB 500). That means you could get away with paying 330 kuai for a years’ worth of membership while attending some insider events to boot.

Meanwhile, Flamme [our 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards winner of Outstanding New Restaurant (non-Chinese) and Outstanding Steak] is celebrating its first anniversary all August with tons of free giveaways, among them free tickets to Megabox Cinemas. Win 4 Megabox vouchers through our site by emailing win@thebeijinger.com and telling us your favorite quote from a summer blockbuster. Five winners will each receive 4 vouchers. (Some movies will require 2 vouchers for a free ticket. Use one and get 50% off.)

You can also read more about Flamme’s other excellent deals here (including buy-one-get-one-free entrees Sun-Thurs if you show them a Harry Potter or Transformers ticket stub).

This week, Three Shadows Photography is also unveiling “Lost World,” an exhibition of photography and video works by artist Junko Takahashi. Swedish band ABBA is immortalized in Mandarin as Mamma Mia! starts its run tonight, and check out the end of the Wang Quan’an Retrospective at BC MOMA, along with other screenings and The Bookworm’s Translation Slam.

Events:

Aug 13-20
UCCA Members Week
See what it’s like to be an art insider. Call to reserve. Attend 5 member week programs and receive one year UCCA membership free. For more info, email members@ucca.org.cn or call 5780 0291 (Chinese) or 5780 0295 (English).

• Aug 13
  Where Are They Now?
  UCCA’s “Curated By …” exhibition series has launched the careers of numerous young artists since 2008. Meet ten of them as artists and guests rotate through quick coffee chats about various topics. Afternoon tea will be served. Free (members), RMB 100 (non-members). 3-4.30pm. UCCA (8459 9269)
• Aug 14
  Inside Caochangdi with Rong Rong
  An insiders’ walking tour of Beijing’s Caochangdi arts district followed by afternoon tea at the Three Shadows Photography Center with celebrated artist Rong Rong. Free (members), RMB 100 (non-members). 3-5pm. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (6432 2663)
• Aug 17
  Hungry Eyes: Guided Tour and Floor Walk
  UCCA’s curatorial department leads guests on a tour of the museum, including history of the center and 798, followed by a specially created (optional) lunch deal at SWITCH! Restaurant, with 15% off for members. Free (members), RMB 100 (non-members). 12-2pm. UCCA (8459 9269)
• Aug 18
  You + Designer: A TUNI Bag Design Workshop
  Cult-followed TUNI bag designer and Beijinger, Gai Hong Rui, helps you produce your own design piece to take home. Free (members), RMB 100 (non-members). 2-4pm. UCCA (8459 9269)
• Aug 19
  French Film Friday Nights
  Part of their summer road films series, this Friday will feature the 1985 French classic Vagabond, winner of the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Free (members), RMB 15 (non-members). 7-8.30pm. UCCA (8459 9269)
• Aug 20
• Film Premiere: The Moon Palace
  Local indie film legend Qiu Jiongjiong premieres his newest, followed by Q&A with the director himself. Free (members), RMB 15 (non-members). 7pm. UCCA (8459 9269)
• Family Day:
  A kid-friendly tour of current exhibitions, a “Rocking & Recycling” workshop w/ designer Shi Chuan, an animated film festival and a live ballet performance. Free (Platinum and Family members), 50% off (Individual and Dual members), RMB 180 (full day, non-member), RMB 120 (half day, non-member). 10am-4pm. UCCA (8459 9269)
• Teen Workshop with Sambasia
  Beijing’s legendary Sambasia group will hold a special funk drumming workshop…just for teens! Free (Platinum and Family members), 50% off (Individual and Dual members), RMB 100 (non-members). 2.30-4pm. UCCA (8459 9269)

Aug 12-31

Musical: Mamma Mia!
A Chinese cast dons the sparkly jumpsuits and sings ABBA’s greatest hits in Mandarin. Mamma mia, indeed. RMB 99-880. 7.30pm (with additional 2pm showings on Sat & Sun, 2pm showings ONLY on Aug 30 & 31, and no shows on Mon). Century Theater (6466 4805, 6468 3311 ext 3126)

Aug 13-27

Junko Takahashi: Lost World
The previous Three Shadows artist in residence explored a vast redeveloping part of northeastern Beijing with his camera. Free. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (6432 2663)

Aug 12

Film: Flying Tigers Made Life-Long Friends
This documentary about a Chinese journalist and his American friends spans decades of history and shows the subjects’ remarkable resilience and relationships throughout. Discussion with the director will follow in Chinese and English. Free. 7pm. Astor & Ivy (8248 4302)

Aug 13

Meet The Filmmaker: Tan Cuimui
The Malaysian director screens her 2006 film Love Conquers All, then follows with a Q&A about her process. Part of Culture Yard’s monthly Meet the Filmmaker series. Reserve before Aug 11. RMB 80, RMB 50 (students, presale). 8-10pm. Culture Yard (8404 4166)

Aug 13

Film: Tuya’s Marriage
After exploring marrying for money, Wang turns to divorcing for money. In Inner Mongolia, Tuya and her husband plan a separation so she can find a man of better means. Director Wang Quan'an will be present as this is the last night of the Retrospective. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students and seniors, RMB 25 (members). 7.30pm. BC MOMA (8438 8258)

Aug 17

Translation Slam: The Great Bruce Lee Romance
The beloved Bookworm event is back as translators go head to head producing English version of the new original Chinese language play, The Great Bruce Lee Romance: a Beijing Love Story (see Aug 18). RMB 30, RMB 20 (members). 7.30pm. The Bookworm (6586 9507)

August 18

Play: The Great Bruce Lee Romance: a Beijing Love Story
Based on the Woody Allen classic Play it Again, Sam with Bruce Lee standing in for Humphrey Bogart, this original play pays tribute to life and love in Beijing. RMB 80, RMB 60 (advanced), RMB 50 (students). 7.30pm. Penghao Theater (6400 6452/72)

Photos from oimag.com and courtesy of Three Shadows Photography Art Centre.