Research
Beijing studio visits, 2017
With Australia's borders still closed in 2021, the relative freedoms of 2017 feels like a world away. Looking back to a research trip to Beijing in November of that year, it is a pleasure to revisit some of the portrait photographs that I was able to take in several artist studios and galleries dotted around the capital - Caochangdi, Songzhuan, Hegezhuan, Dongbianmen and 798 are just some of those locations. I am very grateful for the opportunities that enabled me to connect with many outstanding artists in China, especially so through working with Geoff Raby on his collection of Chinese contemporary art. Here are a few of those images:
Guan Wei in his studio at Hegezhuan Village, Beijing, 2017
Zhang Dali, Beijing's lone graffiti artist of the 1990's at home in his sprawling studio complex, 2017. (Zhang Dali is the first artist since Keith Harring and Jackson Pollock to appear on the cover of Time Magazine).
Li Jin, 'grand master' of the New Literati school of painters at his exhibition in INK studio, Caochangdi, Beijing, 2017
Feng Ling, artist and fashion designer that transcribed the Political Pop art movement into Haute Couture garments, at home in her studio, Beijing, 2017
An Kun on his balcony, Songzhuang Artist Village, Beijing, 2017
Qi Zhilong at his desk, Beijing, 2017
Ah Xian's studio, Beijing, 2017
Lin Chunyan with flower paintings, Beijing, 2017
Cang Xin, shaman performance artist, Beijing, 2017
Wang Lifeng with his work at Red Gate Gallery's last exhibition at Dongbianmen Watchtower, Beijing, 2017 (Red Gate is now located at 798 Art Zone)
L-R: Xi Janjun (Mad For Real), Geoff Raby, Ah Xi'an, Chen Wenling, and Evan Hughes at Geoff's studio in Hegezhuang, north-eastern Chaoyang District, Beijing, 2017
Dandan Dai with her work at XC.HuA Gallery, Caochangdi, Beijing, 2017. Dandan's website: http://www.dandandai.net/en
Yi Ling, vetran of the Yuanmingyuan artist collective and traveler who toured China on his bicycle, at his studio, Beijing, 2017. Geoff Raby and Mia Salsjö examining the intricacies of Yi Ling's work.
All photographs copyright Damian Smith
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