Culture

Valuable artworks at affordable prices come to Sanlitun

By Li Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-22 07:58

Visitors check out sculptures at Affordable Art Beijing venue last year.

The Orange in Sanlitun Village will be transformed into a pop art space this weekend when the Affordable Art Beijing (AAB) takes center stage.

The project, started in 2006, has moved from the suburban 798 Art District to the fascinating fashion hub.

This year's AAB will exhibit around 700 artworks, selected from more than 3,000 submitted.

No single work is more expensive than 10,000 yuan, while the most affordable work on sale this year is just 50 yuan.

This year's AAB will also offer something new for its growing audience.

"There is a section with artworks from famous musicians and bands in Beijing, such as Gia and Queen Sea Big Shark," said AAB founder and director Tom Pattinson.

Artworks will be exhibited next to an iPod with the music of the artist, so that visitors can listen to the band's music while checking out the artwork to get a feeling of what the artist does musically and visually.

Some design works are also on sale this year, such as tables, chairs and lamps, created by new modern designers.

"As many as 408 artists applied to join, double the number of last year. More and more young people are trying to get involved in art. They want to paint, to be an artist and to get exposed to the market, " Pattinson said.

Among more than 400 candidates, this year's AAB will see a range of different artists, with the youngest born in 1989 and the oldest in 1949. There will also be numerous mediums on show, such as paint, design, sculpture, photography and print work.

"We have a larger number of female artists taking part this year, especially from the post-80s generation, accounting for more than a quarter of artists involved. Each year we see more females," he added.

One of the most attractive features of AAB is the ability to get to grips with the market trend.

"Artists can receive feedback directly from customers without the limitations of academic criticism and in a relaxed atmosphere," said participating artist Yan Dong.

"It is a good exhibition and a chance for artists starting out, as well as an opportunity to experiment with new styles."

AAB is even considered a platform for talents to further their careers.

Each year, a handful of artists get picked up by major galleries to go on to great things. As a result, their artwork increases in value.

Chen Yu, who first attended the event in 2006 when she was a painter at a studio at Songzhuang, said the value of her paintings has increased 50 percent over the past five years. She has been offered a chance to hold a solo exhibition at Cartier Gallery in France. Chen has seven pieces on sale this year, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 yuan each.

"AAB is excellent value for money," said Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt, the Northeast Asia director for the International Crisis Group, based in Beijing. Her first artwork bought at AAB was a sculpture by Guo Qipeng, called "Statue of Liberty".

"It was actually chosen by my eight-year-old son, Adrian, who is an lifelong fan of New York City."

"One of the best aspects of AAB is that it cultivates and supports a network of exciting Chinese artists and gives them a platform to interact with potential buyers. I am really looking forward to this year's AAB, which is shaping up to be one of the finest yet."

For the first time, AAB has partnered with Lufthansa to give away a work of art worth 10,000 yuan to one lucky visitor.

"Anyone can enter the competition because it costs nothing," Pattinson said.

He said the event aims to help the public get close to art. It is not exclusive and no matter what a person's budget is, everyone should be able to find something.

His remarks are in stark contrast to a growing belief that art is limited to the super rich, to be collected and stored for investment.

"Art should be something people can appreciate, especially the younger generation. They should be able to take part in and afford it, because it is part of their culture.

It is as important as books, films, talking about contemporary culture and telling stories about the city, the country, and the society people live in," Pattinson said.