Beijing Exhibitions>> Inaugural Exhibition

Lu Hao's constructions, usually in plexiglass, take a new look at tradition, examining why we accept certain rituals, habits, buildings and developments. Reduced scale reconstructions of iconic buildings presented as bird cages, cricket houses, fish bowls or flower pots; a 9 square meter model of China's drastically redesigned capital city; an installation of plastic lotus flowers and traditional houses - all force the viewer to reflect anew on complex social rituals and iconic constructions and places. The lotus flowers of this work were created with the Chinese grave sweeping day in mind. With the small traditional courtyard houses inside the flowers it is a homage to the now destroyed old neighborhoods of Beijing.

Zhu Ming's performance works involve a considerable degree of stress to the individual's (artist's) body. In some of his performances he fluoresces green due to a chemical he paints on his body. In others he is protected by only by his balloon from the dangers of a major body of water (South China Sea). He constantly explores the zones where protection and restriction or vulnerability and independence intermingle. Some works involve the use of Chinese ink, the symbol of literati culture, and can be taken as a reference to tradition and revolution depending on which era one thinks of.

Zhang Dali's latest series of works is inspired by a new class of Chinese citizen, the migrant worker, created by the relaxation of the communist work unit. Zhang Dali has drawn attention to the individuality of these people, who have no identity vis-à-vis the Chinese state, in three series of works: "100 Chinese" - 100 resin casts of individual heads, "Chinese Offspring" - full body casts of volunteer migrant workers, and the AK-47 series, portraits in acrylic on vinyl built up by the repetition of the mark AK47 which is both a reference to the artist's early graffiti work and international violence.

Zhao Bo lives and works in Chongqing, China's most populous city with a population of approximately thirty million. Life happens on the streets on this bustling, provincial metropolis as it does in many other such cities in China. Zhao Bo's works capture this life in all its facets. The paintings are full of energy and irony as one has the overwhelming feeling that everyone is on the make.

Shi Guo Rui's photos are large scale pinhole photography works. In this photo of the Bund, the Huangpu River and Pudong a hotel room was used as the camera. The technique involves entirely blacking out the room while placing photographic paper inside. The artist then makes a pinhole through which the light passes and the image is gradually made on the photographic paper. Other recent pinhole projects have included the Great Wall where the artist used a watchtower as his camera. Each photograph is unique.