6 must-see art exhibitions in Beijing to visit this month
See something incredible this January
Our pick of the best art events and exhibitions happening in Beijing this January. Don't miss your chance to see some of the most talented names in contemporary art while they're showing in the capital.
Qiu Zhijie: Mappa Mundi
With a background in calligraphy, Chinese artist Qiu Zhijie makes stunning ink maps, taking elements of traditional topographical and spatial maps and using them to explore connections between different ideas, individuals and incidents, weaving them together, and offering a possibility for understanding them in relation to each other.
Greetings from South Korea
Featuring work from more than ten Korean photographers, Greetings from South Korea presents a multi-faceted perspective of South Korean photography through the ages. Consisting of three parts, this exhibition explores South Korean society during the mid-20th century, artistic influences from the West and contemporary photography from today's youth.
Celebrating the Spring Festival in the Forbidden City
The Palace Museum, and the Forbidden City in general, will celebrate the Year of the Pig with a special showcase of art, historical relics and traditional decorations. Learn more about the history and significance of the Spring Festival.
Vision and Reflection:
American antique collector Stephan Loewentheil owns the largest private collection of Chinese historical photographs outside of China, but this exhibition sees some of the finest return to China, to be exhibited for the first time in Beijing. 120 rare early photographs of the nation will be on show, featuring masterpieces captured in the nineteenth century by both Chinese and international photographers, among them acknowledged masters of the period, as well as unexpected gems by anonymous photographers and lesser-known figures. Highlights include the earliest photographs of Beijing, majestic landscapes from further afield and portraits from the late Qing dynasty. Read more about the exhibition here.
After Nature
UCCA presents After Nature, the inaugural exhibition at the UCCA Dune Art Museum, the newest addition to UCCA’s growing portfolio of projects. Included are works by nine Chinese artists who span a range of generations, born between 1942 and 1988. To read more about the exhibition and the opening of Dune, click here.
Photo Exhibition: The Last Ladies with Bound Feet
During the nineteenth century, it was estimated that around half of all Chinese women had bound feet, but the practice was outlawed after the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. Despite this, it continued for a while, not only in remote areas but also in big cities like Beijing, though has largely disappeared in the last century. But you can still find older ladies who suffered tremendously in the pursuit of the 'perfect' little foot. This exhibition shares some of the stories of the very last ladies left with bound feet, as told to Cameron Hack, the photographer behind Humans of China.
For all you need to know about art in Beijing, hit 'Read more' below.
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