August 2009 Art Roundup: Beijing 798 Biennale and Is Caochangdi Stealing 798's Crown?

It’s the dog days of summer, and I for one feel it’s high time we got to appreciate art after the sun goes down, preferably over a few drinks. Those of a similar persuasion will appreciate the tips contained in this month’s Art Feature, which records the excellent trend towards situating art where the food and drink is – and within the Third Ring Road too.

But for those made of sterner stuff, 798 is making a big play to get you out to the galleries this month. Commencing August 15 and running for a month at the 706 Space and other galleries around 798, the Beijing 798 Biennale brings us the work of 70 artists, both Chinese and international.

The Biennale is under the curatorial direction of Zhu Qi, the editor of Art Map, who is famous for taking a less than complimentary approach to the efforts of others in the contemporary Chinese art world. So no doubt there will be a few not wishing him well in this enterprise, which aims to elevate 798’s reputation once again as an international center for contemporary art.

Those mourning for the old days of 798, when artists actually lived there and small alternative spaces thrived where a multi-story car park now stands, often lament particularly the passing of the Dashanzi International Art Festival. Under the co-direction of “Father of 798” Huang Rui and French curator Berenice Angremy, DIAF, as it was known, put 798 on the international art map from 2004-2006, growing eventually to involve 470 artists and an audience of 160,000 people. DIAF was, of course, a victim of the more commercial spirit that swept 798 before the Beijing Olympics. We can only hope the new Biennale shares some of DIAF’s spirit. It’s certainly aiming for genuine international participation, with a number of foreign curators working side by side with Zhu Qi. See their website (www.beijing798biennale.com.cn) for details.

Meanwhile, Caochangdi, upstart neighbor to 798, continues to assert its claim to be Beijing’s premier art district. Italian gallery Marella recently shut up shop in 798 and moved to the airport side road which provides the main drag through Caochangdi. Marella joins high-profile defectors White Space and Platform China in the village, which is home to such important players as the China Art and Archive Warehouse (whose artistic director is Ai Weiwei); the Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, which is under the direction of photographer couple RongRong and Inri; Galerie Urs Meile; Pékin Fine Arts; Boers-Li and F2 Gallery. There are now rumors that eminent English architect Sir Norman Foster, designer of Beijing Airport’s Terminal 3, may establish a foundation there. Caochangdi certainly looks chicer by the week. Its abiding obstacle to taking 798’s crown? The confusing layout – and almost nowhere to get a drink!