The State of Art: Vivienne Li of Ullens Center for Contemporary Art
Beijing’s 798 art district has become a hub of China’s art scene and at its heart is the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), opened in late 2007 by Belgian collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens. The Ullens sold their famous Turner watercolor collection at auction, raising $21 million to fund the center’s construction. Vivienne Li became UCCA’s Communications Director a year ago, combining her career path in public relations with her affinity for contemporary art and allowing her to enjoy her vocation and avocation at the same time.
What is your background and how did you get involved with the contemporary art scene and the UCCA?
I worked at public relations companies including Ogilvy and Hill & Knowlton for most of my career. I mostly worked with business-driven companies, nothing related to art. In the past, I used to think art was one of the circles where only people in the circle talk amongst themselves and no one else would listen, but the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art changed my mind, and what it does just really interested me – so here I am.
What makes UCCA different from all of the other art centers and galleries in Beijing?
UCCA is a non-profit, comprehensive art center that is different from galleries whose aims are to make profit-selling art. Its role is more of a neutral curator organizing exhibitions and activities of art, architecture and sports. It’s also a platform to promote and introduce Chinese art to the world and to bring international art here to share with China.
How does UCCA choose the artists, exhibits, and collections that it features?
It is UCCA’s mandate to pro-mote Chinese artists. We decide on showcasing an artist only after long-term observation. We also ask famous artists to help us discover young, talented artists. When it comes to art, the sectors we cover are creating theory, relating it to current times, displaying diversity, and interacting with the audience, if possible.
What are some upcoming exhibits should we look out for?
We launched three exhibitions on July 17. One of them is called “Golden Sky” by Yu Hong (俞红); it showcases the artist’s paintings, which imitate murals from church ceilings in Europe.
How do you see the UCCA’s role and purpose as a place that brings together Chinese contemporary art and corporate fashion design?
Art and fashion have always had a strong relationship. Like art, fashion is also on the creative side. So, we had the exhibition showcasing how artists see fashion, how they see Dior. Fashion is a big part of life, and so is art. Our UCCA store reflects the Chinese design concept perfectly, showing people the UCCA lifestyle.
How has the recent financial crisis affected UCCA and the 798 local art scene?
It is a good thing for the artistic environment and Chinese artists because it forces art buyers to slow down, which helps artists calm down too and makes them think and focus on their creations.
UCCA is a non-profit organization so it didn’t affect us much. We had as many exhibitions as we planned to, but it did help us adjust our operation to spend smart.
What emerging trends in the contemporary art world do you see on the horizon, and how will UCCA be involved?
I think it is developing very positively. It will do the art scene a lot of good if all of our art world peers, such as galleries, art centers, organizations, media and enterprises can work together. It will benefit the art scene greatly.
Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Tue–Sun 10am-7pm. Free admission on Thursdays. 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (8459 9269) 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798艺术区
