State of the Arts: Sarah Lucas, Anish Kapoor, Robert Capa, Alphonse Mucha, and Chen Tianzhuo
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.
Until Dec 8: Alphonse Mucha Solo Exhibition
Czech-born painter, illustrator, and graphic artist Alphonse Mucha rose to fame during the Art Nouveau period for his distinctly stylized posters, decorative panels, and other illustrations. This exhibition at the NCPA showcases a total of 244 artworks from Mucha, including some of his best-known posters, as well as some of his jewelry and glassware pieces, which may be less renowned than his illustrations but stand as masterpieces in their own right. RMB 60. Tue-Sun, 9am-5pm. National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA)
Until Jan 1: Anish Kapoor Solo Exhibition
Internationally renowned India-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor specializes in installations and conceptual art that arrests the viewer through oversized proportions and skewed perceptions. Deeply rooted in ancient Indian philosophy, Kapoor’s sculptures are often made from every-day materials such as mirrors, marble, plaster, and stainless steel, and frequently feature stunning experiments with geometry and form. As Kapoor’s first solo museum show in China, this exhibition presents some of the artist’s most celebrated works from his 35-year-strong career. RMB 120. Tue-Sun, 9.30am-5.30pm. CAFA Art Museum
Until Feb 6, 2020: Sarah Lucas Solo Exhibition
Red Brick Gallery is currently showing over 100 works by Sarah Lucas, selected from her three-decade-long career. Lucas, a member of the Young British Artists who rose to prominence in late 1980s Britain, works in multiple mediums and is especially well-recognized for her witty use of found objects like old furniture, socks, cigarettes, and toilets (such as featured in her famous 1998 self-portrait series Human Toilet Revisited).
The show also includes works by photographer Johnnie Shand Kydd, a close friend of Lucas’, which capture the artist’s life and creation process, as well as her interaction with other YBAs like Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst – all graduates of London's Goldsmiths and Royal Academy of Arts. The collection includes several images that have not previously been seen by the public, promising to give a close look at both the artists' processes and the YBA community as a whole. RMB 100 (book your ticket via WeChat ID: RedBrickArtMuseum). Tue-Sun, 10am-5pm. Red Brick Art Museum
Until Feb 23, 2020: Trance: Solo Exhibition of Chen Tianzhuo
Young Chinese artist Chen Tianzhuo and his merry band of Asian Dope Boys are an unabashed product of China's young, globalized generation. This is often reflected in Chen's mindbending works, which interweave aspects of Indian religious imagery, operatic theater, and rave culture into multimedia performances, installations, videos, and paintings (a still from last year's Entropy is pictured above). The result is a fully immersive and trippy assault of the senses that leaves a lot of space for interpretation. This solo exhibition will be his largest yet and includes works from 2014 to present and kicks off with a 12-hour-long opening performance on Oct 31 at midday. RMB 99, RMB 69 (students). Tue-Sun, 10am-8pm. M Woods (798)
Until May 3, 2020: The Race for China
The 1930s and 1940s were turbulent times in China’s history, with the population toiling in the shadow of a decade-long war with Japan. Despite the conflict, or more likely because of it, numerous foreign reporters and war photojournalists made their way to China, including the likes of Walter Bosshard and Robert Capa. Using their own methods, both photographers captured the times in a frank and matter-of-fact way, filled with a deep sense of humanity. As such, these photos are often referenced as important documents of a specific period of China's history, the influence of which is still felt today. RMB 20. Tue-Sun, 9am-5pm. Tsinghua University Art Museum
READ: Where to Donate Winter Clothes in Beijing
Photos: Douban, courtesy of featured museums
