Gallery Weekend Beijing ushers in its eighth year, celebrating local talent and embracing the promise of artistic appeal.
In 2024, the 8th Gallery Weekend Beijing is officially set for May 24 to June 2, featuring VIP Days from May 24 to 26 and Public Days from May 28 to June 2. Harnessing the robust synergy of Gallery Weekend Beijing as its platform, this event will persist in its core mission and objectives, revolving around the iconic 798 Art District to interconnect numerous cultural hubs, including prominent local art enclaves like Caochangdi Art District and Shunyi Art District, as well as key venues such as the National Agricultural Exhibition Center and China World Trade Centre. It is committed to spotlighting the diverse charm of Beijing as a pivotal hub for contemporary art. The 8th Gallery Weekend Beijing, under the discerning eye of the GWBJ 2024 Members of Academic Committee, will feature a diverse array of more than 30 domestic and international galleries and non-profit institutions.
This year’s theme, "Drift to Return," encapsulates the essence of the artistic voyage—rooting, growing, and flourishing within the local milieu while embracing the cyclical odyssey of galleries and artists. In the dynamic equilibrium between "Drift" and "Return," local artistic vigor, enriched by diverse experiences, finds its roots in cultural heritage, while outstanding international art ventures are lured by the expansive and immensely influential artistic ecosystem, reinvigorating their essence in this vibrant milieu. "Drift to Return" is the crucible where infinite artistic narratives are forged. In resonance with the theme of "Drift to Return," Gallery Weekend Beijing is poised to navigate the new frontiers of contemporary art dialogue between China and the world. Gallery Weekend Beijing beckons a confluence of globally renowned artists, institutions, media, and VIP guests to the capital city for a forum of intellectual fervor and communal harmony this May. The international forum will unite representatives from various spheres, fostering spirited intellectual exchanges around the round table, fueled by camaraderie and shared aspirations.
The dual nature of this year’s theme reflects the core ethos of Gallery Weekend Beijing—rooted in local authenticity while casting a global gaze. The event’s theme will seamlessly intertwine with the its architecture, drawing upon the depth of sector planning to manifest its impactful presence. The Main Sector illuminates the narratives of local galleries and non-profits, the bedrock of the platform’s evolution. The Main Sector of the 8th Gallery Weekend Beijing is a tableau of pioneering spirit, featuring 27 galleries and 6 non-profit Institutions that embody the region’s artistic maturity and its emerging vigor. Newcomers like Click Ten Gallery, ESLITE GALLERY, inner flow Gallery and 798CUBE join the stage, while stalwarts such as ShanghART Gallery and HdM Gallery herald their return.
In harmony with the Main Sector’s ethos, the Visiting Sector preserves its unique tonality while casting a spotlight on the burgeoning trends shaping the global art landscape. The 8th Gallery Weekend Beijing offers local connoisseurs a panoramic view of a diverse array of top-tier contemporary projects from both domestic and international realms. The Visiting Sector extends invitations from around the world to showcase vibrant exhibitions within the 798 Art District, infusing Beijing's contemporary art scene with renewed energy and transforming cross-cultural exchanges into wellsprings of innovation. This year, the Visiting Sector bolsters its roster with eight distinguished galleries, including first-time participants like AIKE (Shanghai) and Galerie Jocelyn Wolff (Paris). Embracing the exhibition-centric ethos of Gallery Weekend Beijing, this year’s edition accentuates the curatorial essence and organizational magnitude, spotlighting the unique visions of individual artists.
The Up&Coming Sector, under the discerning curation of Jiawei Yuan, draws thematic inspiration from Milorad Pavić’s 1991 eponymous novel, The Inner Side of the Wind, mirroring the overarching motif of "Drift to Return." This polyphonic narrative framework engages with the dichotomy in the ongoing Chinese contemporary art shifts, guiding visitors through a spatial journey marked by cyclical yet open-ended traffic flow. This dynamic path, delineated into yin and yang sectors, sets the stage for a transcendent dialogue between protagonists, masking the two distinct yet interlaced threads of discourse.
With the 2024 Paris Olympics on the horizon, the Public Sector shifts its focus towards exploring the intricate interplay between sports, culture, and art, showcasing the uplifting societal impact of artistic expression. Under the theme "798 Art Sports," this sector aims to liberate contemporary art from its traditional confines and bring it into the public sphere, igniting a shared passion for both sports and contemporary art. Embodying the ethos of fair competition, unwavering conviction, and self-transcendence seen in sports, "798 Art Sports" will enlist numerous artists to channel their creative energy and influence, rallying the broader public to participate in this collaborative endeavor.
The team behind Gallery Weekend Beijing expresses their pride, “As China’s singular Gallery Weekend exemplar, we are privileged to celebrate the eighth anniversary of our event. With the forthcoming project inspired by the ‘Drift to Return’ motif of Gallery Weekend Beijing, we are committed to enhancing the unity of our platform in 2024. Rooted firmly in Beijing, we endeavor to foster global artistic exchange and collaboration, cultivating a robust and enduring art ecosystem in concert with domestic and international galleries, institutions, and artists. Gallery Weekend Beijing eagerly anticipates collaborating with our partners to curate an array of captivating exhibitions, and we earnestly await your presence in Beijing come late May.”
Stay tuned for our latest project developments and join the conversation on Gallery Weekend Beijing’s accounts on various social media platforms.
Gallery Weekend Beijing 2024 Schedule
Media Day: May 23 (Thursday)
VIP Days: May 24 to 26 (Friday to Sunday)
Public Days: May 28 to June 2 (Tuesday to Sunday)
