State of the Arts: Six Exhibitions to Welcome Spring (and Summer)

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.

With spring finally here, and summer not too far away judging by weather forecasts, here are a few art exhibitions to beat the heat.

Bruce Nauman: OK OK OK

Organized in collaboration with Tate Modern, this exhibition at M WOOD’s Longfusi location is China’s first comprehensive retrospective of the work of American multimedia artist Bruce Nauman.

Born in Illinois in 1941 and having spent most of his working life in New Mexico, Nauman’s work, which consists of everything from neon light sculptures to a variety of installations, focuses on how different states – be they space, being presented with advertising or other factors – influence decision making and mood.

M WOODS Hutong
Bldg 3, 38 Qingling Hutong, 95 Longfusi Street, Dongcheng District
东城区隆福寺街95号，钱粮胡同38号3号楼
Duration: Until Jun 12

Red Gate’s Countdown 3 Exhibition

Red Gate Gallery’s Countdown 4-3-2-1 series continues with Countdown 3. The second in this series will focus on artists who began collaborating with the gallery in the 2010s. As discussed with owner Brian Wallace in our recent interview, the Countdown series is Red Gate’s goodbye to Beijing (for now). The series will culminate in June with Countdown 1.

Red Gate Gallery
2 Jiuxianqiao Road, 798 Arts District, Chaoyang District
潮阳区798艺术区酒仙桥路2号
Duration: Until May 15

Mass Energy – Zhou Song Solo Exhibition

This exhibition focuses on a decade of work by Jiangxi-born artist Zhou Song. Having graduated from the Tianjin Academy of Fine Art in 2006, Zhou’s works explore intersections of art, science, and philosophy, combining all three elements to create pieces that evoke things not human yet human at the same time.

Guardian Art Center
1 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
东城区王府井大街1号
Duration: Until May 7

Pablo Picasso “Like a Child”

Mocha Art Museum collects the works of modern artist Pablo Picasso. Split into five sections, the show covers the various periods of Picasso’s art – the blue period, pink period, cubist period, middle period and late period. There’s also an installation area recreating Picasso’s works on a larger scale, allowing visitors to get up close for a more immersive experience with the artist’s work.

Mocha Art Museum
27 Xidawang Road, Chaoyang District
潮阳区西大望路27号
Duration: Until Jul 17

A Dream Journey through a Panorama of Rivers and Mountains

Having only been exhibited three times since the founding of the People’s Republic, viewers have only been able to see but a portion of the epic scroll painting “A Thousand Views of Rivers and Mountains” until now. Utilizing technologies like VR, holography, high definition projection and digital lighting, the Palace Museum has created a 3D model of the classic painting, which is now on display for those eager for an awe-inspiring visit to the Know & How Museum.

Know & How Museum
1F Gongyan, 50 Qianmen Dajie, Xicheng District
西城区前门大街50号宫宴1层
Duration: Until Aug 28

Edo Fantasy – Ukiyo-e Exhibition

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic ties between China and Japan, 140 woodblock prints from Japan’s Edo Period have been put on display at the China Century Altar Art Museum. Also known as “Floating World” prints, these works depict scenes of nature, life scenes, people and entertainment from the era, including more renowned works like the Great Wave off Kanagawa, part of print artist Hokusai’s 36 Views of Mount Fuji series.

China Century Altar Art Museum
A9 Fuxingmen Road, Haidian District
海淀区复兴门路甲9号
Duration: Until Jun 5

READ: State of the Arts: Meet Keith Haring at the Meet You Museum inSpace

Images courtesy of the venues