Beijing Art Expo features Taiwan

The debut of 15 galleries from Taiwan at Beijing China World Trade Centre was the highlight of the 15th Beijing International Art Expo, which ran from August 16 to August 20.

The art ranged from abstract to surreal paintings, stainless steel sculptures and calligraphy.

Under the "New Abstract-Contemporary Trend of Painting" theme, 5,000 pieces of art from more than 90 galleries and 16 countries were introduced. Galleries from abroad occupied a quarter of the total booths.

"At the 15th Art Expo, we pioneered the Cross-Straits Art Works Promotion Exhibition. We invited galleries from Taiwan to bring their representative and modern masterpieces to the event. This is our first cooperation with Taipei Art International Fair, different from previous events," Qin Hongqi, general secretary and director of Beijing International Art Expo told the Global Times.

Dialogue

Galleries from Taiwan including Ming Dian Gallery, License Art Gallery, Hang Shiang Gallery, E.D. Lee Gallery and Fei Hwang Art attended the five-day exhibition.

The sculpture Discourse Power: Same Cells, a model of a split tongue, stood at the gateway to the Taiwan galleries.

Created by Wang Kaifang from the Chinese mainland and Hong Yi from Taiwan, the piece seems to suggest that dialogue and ties between two sides are inseparable.

"This is my first time going to the Chinese mainland for an art exchange," said William Lin, a research assistant at Taiwan Art Institute. "Not knowing what audiences prefer, I brought abstract paintings."

Different tastes between Taiwan artists and Chinese mainland collectors exist, said Qin. "For art, this period of transition is inevitable."

The art expo provides a chance for Taiwan-based artists and collectors to learn more about the Chinese mainland market.

"It's a good opportunity to introduce the work of Taiwan painters to the Chinese mainland and to know whether people here can accept this style," Lee Su Hua, CEO of Hang Shiang Gallery, told the Global Times. She said she picked out pieces without focusing on a certain genre.

"Paintings from Taiwan are exquisite and continuously progressing. It is important to promote art sales and let people know that Taiwan has quality paintings," said Lin.

Promising markets

Though unfamiliar with the Chinese mainland market, the invited guests have an interest in developing business opportunities.

Maggie Lee, manager of E.D. Lee Gallery told the Global Times that they have already achieved good sales and will continue to attend such art fairs.

Similarly, Lan Ronghua, art director of Fei Hwang Art who brought stainless steel sculptures said that though modern sculptures were not favored by audiences, she will also partake in more in the future.

According to Qin, the cross-Straits exhibition will become a regular part of future expos.

Paintings featuring new abstract trends were designed by Peng Feng, professor at Peking University. Peng exhibited over 200 works of different forms, the largest abstract art group exhibitions, showing a new trend in Chinese paintings.

Shi Qi's Bride featured Chinese style oil paintings. Zhang Xiangde combined the impressionist style of Chinese painting with the realistic style of Western watercolor paintings.

Zhang told the Global Times that his paintings are based on the cold weather in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province, where he spent his childhood.

International galleries like Dara Gallery from Ukraine, Art Center Miami from the US and Denis Ribas from France displayed art works of distinctive styles.

Alex Galushkov, a representative from the Dara Gallary, told the Global Times that they chose to represent three professional artists from an art family. "The use of bright colors is very remarkable in their paintings."

Overseas galleries

Like Beijing International Art Expo, the launch of Art Beijing in 2006 held similar exhibitions to connect galleries all over the world.

"Compared with Art Beijing, Beijing International Expo pays more attention to art from Taiwan, while there are more Western art galleries in Art Beijing," said Wang Lingyun, the project director of Co-Existences company.

According to Wang, they cater to different demographics. Art Beijing has a greater divide between classic and modern art.

"The art expo is a [way] for us to exchange art with different continents," Ana Carolina Moreno, who works at the Art Center Miami told the Global Times. .

On August 18, at an award ceremony held by the organization committee, five influential artists and five galleries received awards.

"Through this platform, artists are exposed to the outside world, and they can improve themselves," said Zhang Xiangde, one of the five artists who received an award.

The art expo also held The Value of Contemporary Art and Financial Investment Strategy Forum on August 19, dealing with art investment.

"An art expo not only exhibits great works but also needs to convince more customers and art dealers to purchase art products. We will invite more oversea galleries and art institutions to participate in our expo, and we will organize top Chinese artists and works to display internationally," said Qin.