Ming to Nirvana

Exhibits

Ming to Nirvana

Red Gate Gallery is showing Ming to Nirvana, a group sculpture exhibition that celebrates the dynamism and diversity of the plastic arts.

Transforming the interiors of the Ming Dynasty Watchtower into an eclectic sculpture garden, the exhibit is inspired by a plethora of themes ranging from Han Dynasty burial suits, voyeuristic apartment windows to the transcendental philosophies of Buddhism.

On display are ceramic dresses from artist Li Xiaofeng, resembling delicate armor made of blue and white Ming imperial shards that reference Han period jade suits.

There are also works by Shi Zhongying that draw references from Giacometti's sinewy forms to create cocoon-like figures in various poses. Like a sleeping Buddha that symbolizes the attainment of Nirvana, the reclining steel and mesh wire figure echoes the setting of a Dunhuang cave Buddha that has laid dormant for centuries.

The sculptures of Island6, an artist collective, reveal an animated narrative using LED technology. The light panels resemble a magnifying lens of a telescope similar to Rear Window, the classic Alfred Hitchcock film where the viewer gets a glimpse of the intimate environment of the LED personages.

Completing the post-modern scenario, Laurens Tan's spaceship-like fiberglass sculptures herald the arrival of Beijing as the new metropolis.

Until Feb 28. Red Gate Gallery, Dongbianmen Watchtower, Chongwenmen, 6525-1005.

崇文门东便门角楼

You Are Not a Gadget

This is an examination of the role that the Internet and communication technology is affecting our lives.

The group exhibition includes works from Chen Shaoxiong, Huang Ran, Jin Shan, Leng Wen, Lu Zhengyuan, Yan Xing and Zhuang Hui and Dan'er.

You Are Not a Gadget comes from a book by Jaron Lanier, who is a well-known American computer scientist and writer. He coined the phrase "virtual reality" in the early 1980s and has been writing to discuss any motives and implications hidden behind the Internet.

This influential work reminds viewers that the Internet, generally seen as a channel or platform for receiving and sending out information, is far from a mere technological existence.

Artists taking part keep a curious and critical attitude toward the fact that the Internet is already a part of their lives and work. These works reveal some of their reflections and discussions about the nature of the Internet.

Until Feb 29, 2 pm-6 pm. Pekin Fine Arts, 241 Caochangdi, Cuigezhuang, 5127-3220.

崔各庄草场地241号

Events

Drinks for a Better World

Wokai, a non-profit group committed to alleviating poverty in China through microfinance, will host its first Drinks for a Better World this year.

Among the guests will be Scott Snyder, China program development manager for Operation Smile, an international charity helping children with cleft palates.

Drinks for a Better World is a bi-monthly speaker and networking event organized by Wokai to bring together like-minded people to discuss social issues in China. Visit wokai.org for more details.

Feb 15, 7:30 pm- 9:30 pm. Free. Face (at the south gate of the Workers' Stadium), 26 Dongcaoyuan, Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang district, 139-1002-8251.

工体南路东草园26号

Charm of the Round House

This is a song and dance set of original Hakka flavor.

The play is divided into four chapters: Breaking Fresh Ground, Master's Axe Opens the Horizon, Hakka's Beauty and Universal Prestige Under Heaven.

Charm of the Round House tells the development of the Hakka people and is grounded in the beautiful scene of the round house and rich Hakka culture elements. It recalls the arduous journey for the Han people to reach the Central Plains.

It also unfolds the humanistic history of the Hakka round houses and cultural heritages, as well as the simplicity of the folk customs.

Feb 20, 7:30 pm. National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district, 6655-0000.

国家大剧院

Kid drama audition

Beijing Playhouse Academy of Performing Arts is announcing open enrollment for a kid's family stage theater camp.

Participants, aged 6 to 14, will perform Wizard of Oz, with acting, song and dance. Aspiring actors, singers, dancers and musicians are all welcome. Parents will be invited to participate in some of the classes that are specially designed for them and English proficiency is required.

Everyone will be cast. Student registration and open auditions are March 12 at 2 pm. These auditions are fun and done in a group so the director may know the campers better. Students are encouraged to pre-enroll prior to this date to guarantee placement.

For more information, contact performance@beijingplayhouse.com.

Exhibition on Paper

This is a series of talk salons co-hosted by UCCA and VISION magazine.

Eleven established curators from China and abroad are invited to curate exhibitions on paper. Afterward, the curators and artists will be invited to UCCA for discussion, in which they discuss their works with UCCA audiences.

In this session, renowned curator Huang Du and sculptor Sui Jianguo will share their stories and talk about the concept behind the first Exhibition on Paper, titled Trespass.

Huang Du was born in Lintong, China, in 1965. He now lives and works in Beijing as a curator and art critic. Sui Jianguo was born in Qingdao, Shandong province, in 1956. Sui's works create a unique dynamic of association and confrontation between various materials.

Feb 20, 2 pm-3:30 pm. UCCA, 798 Art Zone, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district, 8459-9269.

尤仑斯当代艺术中心

China Daily

(China Daily 02/15/2011)