Where has all my time gone? The unrelenting pace of work has obliterated my personal life, and my camera hardly ever makes an appearance. My view of Beijing has been restricted to trips on taxis to and from the office, on the Jingcheng Express. Sometimes we finished work so late that there was a scarcity of taxis to catch.
The trip to the 798 Art District in Beijing was a much needed break. Fortunately the sky on the day was clear of hazardous smog, so it was possible to wander around without feeling choked by poisonous air particles.
The area has been promoted in the media as the nation's largest and most influential art scene in the country. It was once a factory complex but has since 1995 been gentrified to its present form. Today, the district's popularity has exploded with scores of high-end art galleries, design companies, craft and trinket shops, as well as fancy cafes. During the weekend, it was thronged by the smart-phone generation, but during the week after 7 pm, it had the feel of a ghost town. It is best to download a map for orientation. I got quite lost in D zone and had to retrace my steps to the main gates.
Some of the buildings and sculptures are quite interesting, but nothing arresting. Some parts are littered with rubble and covered by weeds, probably best described as shabby chic.
The trip to the 798 Art District in Beijing was a much needed break. Fortunately the sky on the day was clear of hazardous smog, so it was possible to wander around without feeling choked by poisonous air particles.
The area has been promoted in the media as the nation's largest and most influential art scene in the country. It was once a factory complex but has since 1995 been gentrified to its present form. Today, the district's popularity has exploded with scores of high-end art galleries, design companies, craft and trinket shops, as well as fancy cafes. During the weekend, it was thronged by the smart-phone generation, but during the week after 7 pm, it had the feel of a ghost town. It is best to download a map for orientation. I got quite lost in D zone and had to retrace my steps to the main gates.
Some of the buildings and sculptures are quite interesting, but nothing arresting. Some parts are littered with rubble and covered by weeds, probably best described as shabby chic.
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| The ubiquitous 798 figure |
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| Sculptures in a high end gallery Not sure what the figures are trying to convey |
