Picasso and Giacometti Get a Dedicated Long-Term Venue in 798

When French President Emmanuel Macron stopped by Beijing last week, not only did he secure USD 15 billion worth in trade deals, he also found a moment to drop by 798 to give his blessing to the art district's newest addition: 798 CUBE. The new venue will host exhibitions in cooperation with the Musée National Picasso-Paris and Foundation Giacometti over the next five years.

Located across from the Minsheng Art Museum, the new gallery was designed by Studio Zhu Pei and includes an open courtyard and children’s art education building. The industrial yet geometric design of the building maintains the neighborhood’s factory roots while integrating a more modern style.

The idea for the exhibition deal has been 15 years in the making, director of the Paris museum, Laurent le Bon, told The Art Newspaper. Art has become a key channel for Sino-French relations in recent years, as illustrated by a major Chinese modern art showcase that was held in Paris in April. Now, it appears the timing is finally right for a French museum to launch a long-term project in Beijing’s biggest art neighborhood.

Though Picasso was Spanish, more than 5,000 of his works are held by the Musée Picasso. Moreover, the abstractionist painter is one of the most well-known artists in China and is only getting more popular with time. Some Chinese buyers have shelled out tens of millions of dollars to get their hands on an original Picasso piece, and just this past summer, the largest ever exhibition of his work in China was held at the UCCA, spanning a collection worth an estimated USD 900 million.

Foundation Giacometti, named for Alberto Giacometti, a Swiss artist who spent much of his career in Paris, and one of the most famous and well-selling sculptors of the 20th century, will also ship parts of its collection to the new center. The foundation previously displayed 250 of his works at a 2016 exhibition in Shanghai.

Altogether, 10 major exhibitions featuring hundreds of these artists’ works are scheduled over the next five years, with the first exhibition expected to open to the public in July 2020.

READ: 798's Pace Gallery Beijing Closes Citing a Poor Climate for Art in China

Images: Musée National Picasso, Studio Zhu Pei, Foundation Giacometti