ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 22 Still with a lengthy list of unseen places in Beijing despite a month in the city, on my last day I returned to Beihai Park to be outside in a garden. The northwest section contains temples, pavilions, memorials, and a large lake-front walkway. Restoration produces a deceptive blend of ancient and contemporary sensibilities. Real people sing and dance … [Read more...]
Beihai Park
ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 21 Imperial gardens, temples, and pavilions of the 171 acre Beihai Park began to be built in 1163 AD. Located on one of three interconnected lakes adjacent to Imperial City in the center of Beijing, it has been a public park since 1925. People spend summer afternoons playing music, reading newspapers, strolling, and boating. The earthquake ravaged but … [Read more...]
Tian’anmen
ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 20 The front entrance to the Imperial City in Beijing is called Tian'anmen, or Gate of Heavenly Peacemaking. First built in 1415 during the Ming Dynasty, it is where Mao Zedong's portrait is centrally hung. Forbidden city is within the Imperial City north of Tian'anmen. The immense open area called Tian'anmen Square is on the opposite side of a busy … [Read more...]
Mutianyu
ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 19 Begun in 500 BCE, the great wall is actually many walls built at different times with different materials depending on the era and region. (See Peter Hessler and David Spindler). An archaeological survey by China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage announced in June 2012 the completion of a five year measurement of the wall at 21,196.18 km … [Read more...]
IOAM Ink Art
ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 18 The exhibition In Riotous Profusion — The New Possibilities of Ink Art opened at Inside Out Art Museum, Haidian, Beijing with a symposium of distinguished speakers. President Fan Di'an of China Academy of Fine Art, CAFA toured the show. The collection highlights cultural roots of ink art in China with a contemporary lineage dating to 1960s Taiwan and … [Read more...]
CAFA & Red Gate Open Studios
ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 17 Central Academy of Fine Arts, CAFA is a world class university with many distinguished faculty and alumni. It is located in the northeast Chaoyang section of Beijing. In 2008, on the 90th anniversary, the school opened a major museum designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. There is a well-stocked art supply store on campus. Red Gate Gallery, … [Read more...]
Palace Museum Side Halls
ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 16 It is called Forbidden City because it was forbidden to enter or leave without the emperor's permission. It was the central seat of political and ceremonial power in China for 500 years, 1406—1912. The central axis is comprised of a series of throne rooms and vast courtyards. On either side are warrens of intimately scaled private rooms, kitchens, … [Read more...]
Palace Museum
ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 15 So far in photographs of Beijing I have minimized the presence of people at popular sites. That is not possible at the Palace Museum, commonly called Forbidden City. It is the first listing in every tourist guide book and travel website and always crowded. Beginning this month, the daily visitor count will be limited to 80,000 people per day. As many … [Read more...]