Art Attack: Joe Dunthorne, Malaysia or Bust and Batman and Spiderman Coming

Coming up, there are not one but two chances to hang out with East London author Joe Dunthorne, Malaysian eats and cinema, more sports movies and two superheroes alighting soon.

Joe Dunthorne’s first book, Submarine, was made into an indie film that's developed a cult following. It’s a sweet but quirky coming-of-age tale about a 15-year-old with a cute girlfriend and parents whose lives appear to be falling apart. Check out our interview with him here. Then catch the author live this Sunday as he talks about his new book, Wild Abandon, and has a chat with author Zhang Yueran. Details below.

If you’re feening for the charms of Southeast Asia, you can visit vicariously at Food, Film and Friends, also this Sunday. Electric Shadows invites you to cook and eat a Malaysian meal at the Hutong, following by a screening of the indescribable Bunohan.

Speaking of Electric Shadows, the sports cinema series they’ve been running is finishing with some upsets. Gaea Girls, which was supposed to screen two days ago, has been moved to the end of the month due to delays in having the Japanese film imported. Cool Runnings was shown in its place (on Aug 15). This means next Wednesday (Aug 22), they’ll be showing the epic wartime soccer film, Escape to Victory.

Lastly, we mentioned in our August issue that both the new Spiderman reboot and The Dark Knight Rises (the final in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy) would be released in China on August 30. But in a rare twist, they’ve actually moved the dates up. Both heroes will be landing in Beijing on August 27.

Have a look at the exhibits closing up in the next couple weeks, too. If you've been waiting to catch street artist Eltono, the Indian Highway exhibit at the UCCA or Nobuyashi Araki's photos at Three Shadows, go before it's too late. Next week, look forward to a bike-in film screening at Three Shadows.

As usual, details below. Enjoy.

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Aug 19
Book Talk: Joe Dunthorne in Conversation with Zhang Yueran
An informal chat between two authors born in 1982 – one British, the other Chinese, both wildly successful. Price TBD. 2.30-4pm. Zajia (156 0112 2252)

Book Talk: Wild Abandon with Joe Dunthorne
The Welshman impressed with his first novel, the quirky cult hit, Submarine. Here he opens up about his recent work, Wild Abandon. RMB 30, RMB 20 (members). 7.30pm. The Bookworm (6503 9507)

Food, Film, & Friends: Malaysia
Spicy Malay treats paired with the violent yet pensive Bunohan. RMB 240, RMB 200 (members), RMB 30 (screening only). 5pm, 7.30pm (screening only). The Hutong (6615 8691)

Aug 22
Film: Escape to Victory
Where football and WWII collide. RMB 40 (includes coffee or tea). 7.30pm. Riverbank Cafe (6506 8277)

COMING UP:

Aug 25
Bike-In Film Screening: Annie Hall
Tiger Beer, Beijing snacks and Woody Allen’s Annie Hall make for a fun afternoon, preceded by a nice ride on your bike. RMB 40, RMB 20 (arrive by bike). 5pm, 8pm (film starts). Three Shadows Photography Art Center (6432 2663)

EXHIBITS CLOSING SOON:

Eltono: 1/1
Until Aug 26. The geometrically-inclined street artist posts his first solo show in Beijing since he’s called the city his home. Free. C-Space (5127 3248)

Indian Highway
Until Aug 26. It’s time to shine a light on India’s contemporary art (sculpture, photography,
installations and more) in this exciting exhibit. RMB 10, free (Thu). UCCA (8459 9269)

Curated By Wang Xingwei: Specificity
Jul 21-Aug 30. Five unknown painters from Wang’s hometown get their big break. Free. UCCA (8459 9269)

Wang Mai: Dire Straits
Jul 21-Aug 30. A huge, absurdist forest embedded with traditional materials will be installed in the Nave. RMB 10, free (Thu). UCCA (8459 9269)

Nobuyoshi Araki: Sentimental Journey/Decadence in Paradise 1971-2012
Until Aug 31. Early works and a recent series on the Japanese tsunami by the prolific photographer. Free. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (6432 2663)

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