Museum opening launches a ‘new era’
The Yuan Art Museum, located in the Junhao Central Park Plaza of Beijing’s Chaoyang district, officially opened on Sunday, with its inaugural exhibition, Launching a New Era: Body and Language as Manifesto.
This exhibition encompasses more than 40 pieces of art by 30 artists from home and abroad, across various mediums, including painting, installation, video, and performance art, with many works making their debuts in China for the first time.
British artist Antony Gormley’s sculptures, often composed of abstract rectangles and architectural elements, are showcased in the exhibition, with Hidden II exemplifying his exploration of the relationship between the human body and space.
The opening featured a special presentation of Xu Zhen’s performance art piece In Just a Blink of an Eye. Performers maintained a pose as if they were falling, creating a moment where time seemed to be paused, thus prompting viewers to contemplate the authenticity of existence and experience.
Zhang Weixiang, the chairman of Zhejiang Jianlong Holding Group and founder of the Yuan Art Museum, said at the opening ceremony: “I have always wanted to create a museum within the city area so that people can enjoy art in their leisure time after work, helping them to relax and foster a better mindset, which in turn could benefit their careers.
“The Yuan Art Museum is my first foray into the realm of museums. We have carved out a unique artistic space within a concrete landscape, aiming to lead urban dwellers back to the essence of their spirits, providing a space for aesthetic appreciation, contemplation, and communication.”
Curator Lu Mingjun says: “The fluid spatial design of the museum, resembling a dancing body or a musical note, presents a delightful challenge for curators.”
Over the past few years, Lu has been researching the avant-garde art of the 1960s, with conceptual and body performance art being the most crucial components. “Many of these works have never been exhibited in Beijing, and most of them have a global context. They may appear simple, but the underlying content is actually very rich and complex, making this an exhibition that requires observation and contemplation,” Lu explains.
The Yuan Art Museum, initiated by Beijing Jianlong Group and Junhao Group, is a nonprofit initiative that will adhere to an international perspective in its examination of various contemporary art phenomena.
Based on research and organization, it will present a diverse range of contemporary art exhibitions to the public, according to Zhang.
Additionally, the museum will connect deeply with local artists, focus on the creation and expression of the younger generation of artists, support emerging art trends and avant-garde practices, and explore the boundaries of contemporary art together with artists and the public.
The exhibition will continue until May 31.