A day after the affordable-art cocktail of Surge (perhaps slightly over-sweetened) came the opening of Art Beijing’s 2013 edition. A new degree of interest marked the entrance, with sculptures and a motion-sensitive light and sound installation amongst the trees. Automobile sponsorship had stepped up a gear from last year, with Mercedes displaying its wares outside and in.
As part of the fair’s policy of giving galleries a regular position each year, prominent names such as Beijing Commune, ShanghART and Star Gallery were to be found in the same booths as before. Amongst the noticeable new arrivals this time were a plethora of local “art clubs” whose expansive booths (complete with big-name works and ostentatious furnishings), occupied large areas towards the nether regions of the hall.
The quality of the works on display offered a similar balance as last year, ranging from the kitsch to the quite impressive. At the latter end of the scale were impressive booths from Platform China, Space Station, China Young Artist Project and Other Gallery. Below are some of the more memorable works in the fair:
A well-attended vernissage 开幕式
Painting installation by Jiang Ji’an at Zero Art Centre 姜吉安,装置
Hu Renyi, “Crack”, LED installation, 2012 胡仁义, “Crack”, LED 装置， 2012
Baroque ennui courtesy of Naissance Art Institutions 暖山艺术机构的巴洛克式无聊
Yan Bing, “New Mud,” mud, 2013
闫冰，”新泥”，泥土，画框， 2013
Zhou Wendou, “January in Beijing, PM 2.5,” newspaper, 164 × 122 × 9 cm, 2013
周文斗， “北京一月PM 2.5″, 摄影，报纸, 164 × 122 × 9 cm, 2013
Mao Tongqiang, “Leasehold”, 2007-2009. 毛同强, “地契”, 2007-2009.
