State of the Arts: A Glimpse Into South Korea Society, Japanese Crafts, and Jing-Jin-Ji Folk Culture

State of the Arts is our regular arts column whereby we take a look at the newest moves in Beijing's creative scene and highlight art news as well as exhibitions, artists, and openings that you should seek out.

Until Mar 24: Greetings from South Korea
This group exhibition presents a collection of works from several photographers, and consists of three parts that look to explore Korean society during different periods in time: Limb Eung-Sik: History Through the Lens, documents changes in Korean society around the mid-20th century; Reinventing Our Time, sheds light on life after World War II; and finally Same Seasons, Different Memories, encompasses snapshots of daily Korean life today.

Three Shadows Photography Art Centre
RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance, buy here). 10am-6pm Tue-Sun. 155 A Caochangdi, Chaoyang District
三影堂摄影艺术中心:朝阳区草场地155号A

Until Mar 31: Ozutsumi Akiko Potter Works Exhibition
Akiko Ozutsumi is a Japanese ceramic artist that specializes in handmade utensils. As a major in modern design, Ozutsumi integrates her design aesthetics into her works. This collection includes floral containers, tableware, lamp covers, decorations, and brooches etc., with no single piece being the same as the next. Best yet, all works are for sale so you can take your favorites home with you.

Dairuhe Handmade Art Store
Free. 11am-7pm. 1/F, One World Apartment, 16 Xinyuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District
待入荷:朝阳区新源南路16号世方豪庭1层

Until Mar 31: Earthy Colors - Contemporary Craft
This exhibition displays more than 200 pieces from 16 Japanese artists. Handmade from various materials, including clay, lacquer, and glass, these works, which mostly embody earthy colors and simplified shapes, are sure to impress fans of oriental aesthetics and wabi-sabi. All the works are available for sale, and the opening this Saturday (Mar 23), 5.30-7pm, will be backed by Brian Eno's Music for... series.

HUI-temple
Free. 11am-7pm. 23 Songzhuyuan, Shatan Beijie, Dongcheng District
回HUI:东城区沙滩北街嵩祝寺23号

Until Apr 7: Art Kunst Exhibition
This is a group exhibition features works from Art Kunst artists, including internationally renowned names like Bruno Bruni and Marc Chagall to up-and-coming Chinese artists such as Fang Lijun and Zhou Chunya. Highlights include sculptures by Salvador Dalí and screen prints from Chagall.

SKP
Free. Daily 10am-10pm. 5/F, SKP, 87 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区建国路87号

Until Apr 14: André Butzer Solo Exhibition
This solo exhibition features recent paintings and pencil drawings from German painter André Butzer, and the first time they have been exhibited in China. Best known as an expressionist painter acclaimed for his colorful paintings, Butzer’s oeuvre encompass a breadth of topics that have been shaped by his life experience and society as a whole, most recently reflecting his move to the US.

Boer-Li Gallery
Free. 11am-6pm Tue-Sun. 06 D, 798 Art Zone, Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
博而励画廊:朝阳区酒仙桥路798艺术区D06

Until Apr15 : Jingjinji Folk Culture Exhibition
Set inside the actual Qianmen gate, visitors are also treated to this exhibition co-organized by several museums around the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region (the new Jingjinji economic zone). It collects and examines remnants of Chinese folk culture through old objects, traditional wood-carvings, Peking opera masks, plant-dyed works, unearthed antiques, and folk paintings, altogether helping to present a vivid picture of people’s daily lives and the related traditions that began long ago but which are still practiced today.

Qianmen (Zhengyangmen)
RMB 20. Daily 9am-4pm. Qianmen Dajie, Dongcheng District
正阳门(前门):东城区前门大街

Until Apr 16: The Encounter with There-Being 
This retrospective features works from Pang Maokun, a contemporary Chinese oil painter that melds modern day objects and scene with “an oblivious classicism style.” Integrating cultural elements from the West, Pang’s paintings not only “express his personal aesthetic value, but more remarkably, gives a distinct voice for Chinese oil painting among the modern art field.”

Minsheng Art Museum
Free. Daily 10am-5pm. 9 Jiuxianqiao, Chaoyang District
民生美术馆:酒仙桥北路9号恒通国际创新园内

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Email: kuang@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Douban, courtesy of the venues