Art Attack: Party Like Brazil, Remembering 9/11, and Caochangdi Art

This weekend, enjoy a Brazilian block party a la documentary festival DocBrazil, set in everybody’s favorite “new Nanluogu Xiang,” Wudaoying hutong; reward your trek to Caochangdi with at least five new exhibit openings; commemorate 9/11 with a documentary screening at the Beijing American Center; and catch ballet, piano, orchestras and more.

It’s a good weekend for film geeks, what with Brazilian documentaries to catch and the continuation of BC MOMA’s open-air screening (as well as many other screenings around the city – see details below).

DocBrazil is here for the second year running, and has grown bigger and more exciting. It’s part of this year’s “789 Festival Young” (no, not 798 Festival … tricky, we know), and features seven new documentaries hailing from Brazil (you know, that other developing nation).

You can find the full schedule of the festival here, including performances by Sambasia and a poster exhibition, but we highly recommend catching Tracing the Invisible (Saturday, 3pm). It’s a slow, quiet film that follows Sao Paulo graffiti artist Zezao in his search for canvas space on the city’s underpasses, waterways and sewage pipes. Directors Laura Faerman and Marilia Scharlach provide a fascinating take on the change and reconstruction of a city, capping off forty minutes of grimy visuals with breathtaking aerial shots of the city’s infrastructure. Bonus: the film and its comments on urban flux will be followed later in the afternoon by a Q+A session with Beijing-based starchitect Li Hu (Saturday, 5.30pm).

Football fans should also check out Ginga, the Soul of Brazilian Football, the story of ten Brazilians from different social classes who share a passion for the national sport.

Speaking of documentaries, those seeking a bit of gravitas in the lead-up to the ten year anniversary of America’s 9/11 attacks can attend a screening and discussion at the Beijing American Center on September 8 at 6.30pm. No word on which documentary will be showing, but you can get all your details – including how to RSVP – here. So far, this is the only event we know of (besides a postponed photography exhibit) that addresses the anniversary, but we’ll let you know if we hear of any others.

Finally, enjoy some great new exhibits at Pekin Fine Arts, Alexander Ochs, Galerie Urs Meile, White Space Beijing and F2 Gallery this weekend in Caochangdi. The galleries have been thoughtful enough to organize their openings on the same day, so the least we can do is go and enjoy them. Don’t forget to bring along our August issue, filled with handy dining and shopping suggestions for Caochangdi. The exhibit openings range from about 3-6pm Saturday afternoon, but the galleries (and their new exhibits) will be open all day starting Sunday.

Also of note this week: Cafe Amsterdam at the UCCA, pianist Peter Serkin and Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa, several great artist talks and salons at CAFA and Three Shadows and Antonioni's Chung Kuo at Culture Yard.

Event details:

September 2

Café Amsterdam II: Eberhard van der Laan in conversation with Geert Mak
The UCCA Café hosts a delightful series engaging artists, writers, musicians and illustrators in the Dutch tradition of creative gatherings in a local bar or café. Enjoy live music and drawings. This session invites the Mayor of Amsterdam to introduce his city. Free. 7-8.30pm. UCCA (8459 9269)

Film: Metropolis
BC MOMA shows a newer restored version of Fritz Lang’s monumental silent sci-fi film, joined by the sounds of Chinese band Shanshui. RMB 100 (includes drink). 7.30pm. BC MOMA (8438 8258)

Orchestra: Saito Kinen Concert
The famous Japanese orchestra hits the stage with American pianist Peter Serkin. RMB 180-880. 7.30pm. NCPA Concert Hall (6655 0000)

September 2-3

Ballet: Raise the Red Lantern
The National Ballet of China reprise Zhang Yimou’s lyrical take on the story. RMB 100-380. 7pm. Peking University Hall (6275 1278)

September 3

Café Amsterdam III: The Photo Book as Successful Medium
In this session, photographer Ruben Lundgren and graphic designer Liu Zhizhi discuss the secrets of a good photo book. Free. 4-5.30pm. UCCA (8459 9269)

Café Amsterdam IV: The Importance of Being Curious
See Sep 2. This session looks at how curiosity drives our lives, art, businesses, relationships and much more. Free. 7-8.30pm. UCCA (8459 9269)

Film: Faust: A German Folk Legend
Marnau’s filmic fable about Mephisto’s devilish corruption of Faust, accompanied by the multi-ethnic sounds of DaWangGang. RMB 100 (includes drink). 7.30pm. BC MOMA (8438 8258)

Film: Love Like Poison
Anne returns from Catholic school to find that her father has left them. Her mildly lecherous grandfather (awkward!) and atheist boyfriend (crisis of faith!) comfort her. RMB 20, RMB 10 (students). 7.30pm. Alliance Française de Pekin French Cultural Center (6553 2678)

Salon: Enlightenment and Emancipation
An invigorating discussion of how desire for personal rights and freedom drive social evolution. Free. 3-5.30pm. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (6432 2663)

September 3-4

Festival: DocBrazil
Seven documentary films and Q+As with architect Li Hu, an outdoor performance by Sambasia and more. Free. See here for detailed screening times. 55 Wudaoying Hutong

September 4

Artist Talk: Blood and Guts in High School
Dusseldorf-based contemporary painter Christian Schoeler and abstract figurative artist Qiu Xiaofei speak to enquiring minds at China’s top art institute. Free. 4-6.30pm. CAFA Art Museum (6477 1575)

Café Amsterdam V: Blue Eyes Looking at China
Architecture critic Zhou Rong interviews three Dutch architects about working in China. What do Western builders and designers contribute to the Chinese landscape? Free. 4-5.30pm. UCCA (8459 9269)

Café Amsterdam VI: Six Revelations
Here, six artists will discuss their favorite work of art and how it has brought change upon their own artistic callings. Free. 7-8.30pm. UCCA (8459 9269)

Film: Berlin: Symphony of a Great City
An indoor screening of the classic experimental film by Ruttman, also with live music by FM3. RMB 80. 7.30pm. BC MOMA (8438 8258)

Salon: Art and Historical Memory
Artist Chen Guangwu and the Director of Berlin’s Museum of Asian Art discuss how art helps to maintain and even create historical memory. Free. Time TBD. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (6432 2663)

September 6

Film: Chung Kuo
Italian director Antonioni was invited to China to document the “rising nation,” but the result drew discontent from the powers that be. Part one of three. Reservation required: contact@cultureyard.net. RMB 25 (includes soft drinks and popcorn). 7pm. Culture Yard (8404 4166)

Piano: Peter Serkin
The distinguished American pianist tickles the ivories. Also catch him playing with the Saito Kinen Orchestra (Sep 2). RMB 80-480. 7.30pm. NCPA Concert Hall (6655 0000)

September 8

Lecture: Heribert C. Ottersbach and Tan Ping
German artist Ottersbach was invited by the vice president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts to show his work in Beijing for the first time. This discuss this latest exhibit. Free. Time TBD. Central Academy of Fine Arts (6477 1018)

Art Exhibits:

Gao Lei: The Principle
Sep 3-Oct 9. Mixed media works of painting, photography and installation from the man who admits, “I prefer setting up a cage between my work and the viewer.” Peer through the bars for a closer look. Free. White Space Beijing (8456 2054)

Chiharu Shiota: Presence Of The Past
Sep 3-Oct 16. Shiota brings her prom-meets-The Matrix aesthetic with drawings, photographs and small-scale sculpture. Free. Alexander Ochs Galleries Beijing (8456 2054)

Gregor Gaida: Polygonal Horse
Sep 3-Oct 16. The two-month artist in residence shows the fruits of his labor with a large-scale aluminum-cast sculpture. Free. Alexander Ochs Galleries Beijing (8456 2054)

Heribert C. Ottersbach: We Are All Alone Again
Sep 3-Oct 16. The German painter and printmaker’s figurative images go solo in Beijing for the first time. Free. Alexander Ochs Galleries Beijing (8456 2054)

Wei Weng: Chasing Sites
Sep 3-Oct 16. Large paper-cut wall installations bear witness to Wei's experiences working with fleeting exhibit sites and temporary materials - and how they effect his relationships with audiences and organizers. Free. Pekin Fine Arts (5127 3220)

Colin Chinnery: Perpendiculous
Sep 3-Oct 17. Moving sculptures drag chains along the gallery floor, heads of hair form mountains and trees and long narrow photographs of Beijing force the city into a more focused perspective. Free. Pekin Fine Arts (5127 3220)

5 One Man Shows
Sep 3-Oct 23. Five artists – Yan Xing, Christian Schoeler, Li Gang, Hu Qingyan and Cheng Ran – put on five solo exhibits side by side by side by side by side. Free. Galerie Urs Meile (6433 3393)

Wu Junyong: Rumor
Sep 3-Nov 7. New paintings and works on paper by the contemporary artist as he further explores Chinese folklores and idioms through an absurdist lens. Free. F2 Gallery (6432 8831)

Photos from Zezao and Alexander Ochs Galleries