Red Gate Gallery was on the list of places that I was meant to visit while here in Beijing. After getting a taste of 798 I wanted to explore the other areas of the city deemed artistic disctricts. I use that term loosely. While it has been explained to me that there are many area’s of the city which artists call home, the general notion is that there are really just 1 or 2, primarily that 798 is it. So off to Red Gate Gallery I went.
Red Gate is located in the Dongbiamen Watchtower in Dongcheng, Beijing. If you ever visit, it is literally in the giant tower attached to the ancient wall. You can’t really miss it, although when you walk in everything is so quiet that you begin to second guess that you’ve come to the right place. Don’t fear, just walk through the Red Gate and up the long flight of stairs to the top, it will be waiting right there for you. The Gallery has been in Beijing for 20 years. Amazing!
I was greeted as soon as I walked in. Probably the result of a combination of hospitality of and maybe in part because the poor guard I asked directions for at the top of the stairs, who spoke not a word of english, followed me into the building with a confused and concerned look on his face. I may or may not have forgotten to pay the initial entrance fee of 10 RMB ($1.50), but I was confused about exactly where I was and the man in the ticket booth was fast asleep, so I didn’t quite know what else to do but walk in like I knew where I was going. I’ll pay double the next time I go I swear.
I had a chance to sit down with some of the staff and pick their brains about the organization and find out what they are up to over the next few months. They have a new show opening next weekend so I think I’ll be headed over there for it. Look out for a post on the new show. For now I’ll leave you with this video of a super awesome piece Objectum by Lou Dao that is part of The Year of the Dragon exhibition.
oh and this painting that I absolutely love Sunrise and Sunset no. 23 by Chen Ke
Dreaming Eyes of Wonder 