China (1) The 798

When: April 2007
Where: Dashanzi (aka The 798), Beijing
Words: The 798

The 798 art district was one of my favorite neighborhoods in Beijing. Modern and cosmopolitan and gritty/chic, it's nestled in a streamlined corner of the slapdash craziness of urban China.

Street Art

As you might expect in an area overflowing with young creativity, the 798 has more than its share of sweet (sanctioned and unsanctioned) public art.


These figures stood guard all over the neighborhood—sometimes on solo watch, sometimes in pairs—like silent, benevolent grandfathers.

Gallery Openings

Stacey's gig at TimeOut Beijing calls for him to attend as many openings as he can handle. Our first stop was the Long March Gallery. Clearly, I had Canteen on the brain:


The current exhibit, NONO, posed this question: "Is NONO a double refusal and rejection, or is it the refusal of rejection?"

Having seen the art, I still can't tell you, but the snails were cool.

"using the cheapest method to love your soul 2," he an

"unicorn," colin chinnery

There was a nice symmetry in discovering this place out the back door of Long March.


Next up was the Tang Gallery, where some heavier hitters show their work.

"phantom," zhao nengzhi

"gesture," ye yongqing

Then I found this portal with my doppelganger inside, on the right:


Our final opening of the night was Platform China, featuring the mental implosions of new talent Jia Aili, plus some outdoor couches that brought me back to my (very brief) Cranberries period.

The Farewell Committee

I revisited the 798 the day before I left Beijing, so the last two locals I met were a red discus-thrower and an extremely surprised giant fish. Closure doesn't get much better than that.