Striking Snapshots: PMT Art Shop Now Open in 798

Anyone ambling down Nanluogu Xiang has likely stopped at the PMT Art Shop. Their provocative images have a way of putting passersby under a spell. Each photo reveals a snippet of a story – an old man reflectively smoking an opium pipe before a poster of Mao, a pair of child monks gleefully playing ring toss with shiny toy cars – leaving all those who catch a glimpse strangely affected, and hungering for more clues. The hutong stalwart has recently expanded, opening a second branch in 798 that stocks the same striking snapshots, as well as Chinese-designed furniture, T-shirts and leather bags.

The “P” in PMT stands for photography, while the “M” stands for Min and the “T” for Ting, the names of the owners (who, by the way, are professional photographers). Like many before them, Min and Ting have been gripped by the desire to provide a platform for local talent, in order to build credibility and support for Chinese art. Unfortunately for us, their Chinese art comes at a steep price: RMB 1,980 for the jumbo-size photos, RMB 2,500 if you want them framed. Those on a budget can always compromise with a smaller version, either framed (RMB 100), on a postcard (RMB 10) or emblazoned on a T-shirt (RMB 198).

Besides haunting photos with people as subjects, there are also pictures capturing the picturesque: a water town, the Great Wall, a Shanghai hutong. Upstairs lies PMT’s newer additions: iron pipe chairs made from recycled fabrics (RMB 2,780-2,880) and wooden table and chairs (from RMB 1,699), arranged to resemble a home and matching seamlessly with their trademark photos on the walls.

Also try: Zi An Print and Graphics, Beijing Postcards

PMT Art Shop
Daily 10am-7pm. Zhong Erjie (across from UCCA Design Store), 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5762 6364)
朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798艺术街区中二街.

Photos: Tiffany Wang and courtesy of PMT Art Shop