September 1-11, 2013
A group of rising second-years in UChicago's Masters in Fine Arts program visited Beijing in September, along with Department of Visual Arts professors Laura Letinsky and Geof Oppenheimer. The study tour program, the second in a yearly series, offered the MFA students the opportunity to delve into Beijing's flourishing contemporary art scene via gallery tours, studio visits, and discussions with prominent artists and curators. This year's program concluded with several days of exchange activities with the Renmin University of China art department.
Program Schedule
Sept. 1, Sunday
Arrive at Beijing International Airport
Sept. 2, Monday
12:00pm Meet with Wu Jian’an, artist, at Central Academy of Fine Arts
Afternoon Studio Visit with Cia Jin, artist
Sept. 3, Tuesday
10:00am Meet with Philip Tinari, Director, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in 798
1:30pm Studio Visit with Chen Xiaoyun, artist
Afternoon: Visit Chambers Fine Art; walk through Caochangdi arts area galleries
Sept. 4, Wednesday
11:00am Visit with Ai Wei Wei at the Fake Factory and Studio
2:30pm Tour and discussion of Three Shadows Photography Art Centre
Sept. 5, Thursday
3:00pm Meeting at ShanghART with a local collector of Chinese contemporary art
Sept. 6, Friday
1:00pm Red Gate Gallery tour and discussion with Brian Wallace, Founder and Director
Afternoon Visit to Red Gate Residency
Sept. 7, Saturday
Panjiayuan "Ghost" or "Dirt" antiques market
Sept. 8, Sunday
Climb the Great Wall at Mutianyu
Sept. 9, Monday
Morning Graduate students from both schools meet up (translators provided) at Renmin University Art College to talk, then visit the students' studio
Lunch with Renmin school leaders
Afternoon Laura and Geof give short artist talks
Dinner Snack tasting with Renmin University students
Sept. 10, Tuesday
Morning Speech about art, China's political history, and Marxism at Renmin University
Group lunch in teachers' restaurant
Afternoon Visit Renmin University faculty painters' studios in Western Hills area
Dinner with Renmin University Art College students
Sept. 11, Wednesday
Depart Beijing
