Went over to Li Gang's studio the other day.  Li Gang is a Beijing based sculptor, photographer and so much more who is represented by the Red Gate Gallery.  I may be involved on a project he is dreaming up for the fall, but it's too soon to divulge details.  Though I don't know him well, he was eager to discuss cameras and show me some of the gear he has cobbled together himself.  Here's a few shots of his custom built cameras.



Medium format with binocular lens.  Wonder if he would loan it to me?


Another medium format custom job.

From what I saw, he had at least three other cameras he had built himself and without using camera glass.  I would have taken more photos, but we were in a meeting with other people, so I had to, uh, focus.

Then he introduced me to what may be my next camera.  Apparently the Russians made some good 120 film cameras that can be easily picked up used in Beijing for around 1,000RMB.  Though I do not have time to go shopping before leaving for the USA tomorrow (5 weeks in Oregon!), I'll definitely take him up on his offer to go find one together and get it restored.  Even the film sells for less than 10RMB a pack.  I'm looking forward to going back into film the old fashioned way - with a decidedly low tech piece of history.


Could this Russian made beauty be my next camera?  Stay tuned....

Right, bags are packed, blog written, pre-departure massage scheduled...now where did I leave those airline tickets?

It was a hot morning and AnD's favorite young model, Reina, decided to look for some fun out of the sun.  Her search ended at the Linda Gallery in 798.  It's big, it's free, it's air conditioned!



She searched the joint for something unique.


Artwork she could relate too.  It was all good, but she was looking for something....


A bit more interactive.


And she knew it when she found it!


Here was some art she could really appreciate.


Art she could kick off her shoes for and sink her toes into.



Okay, this one is done.  What's next?


Next up?  Reina wants to visit the National Gallery and see what kind of trouble she can get into.

Special thanks to Di Wu, the fantastic artist who created the mandala, for encouraging Reina to come and redesign his artwork.  You rock!

Last week, I documented three events in conjunction with the Coming Home art exhibition at the Linda Gallery in 798.  My friend, Catherine Croll, curated the exhibition which featured the work of 37 prominent Chinese-Australian artists, many of whom have moved back to China.  There was a BBQ dinner party on Wednesday for the artists to meet each other (some of them are classmates that had not seen one another for over ten years).  On Friday the Australian Ambassador hosted a cocktail party at his residence.  And finally on Saturday, the show opened and was followed by an auction to raise funds for those who suffered from the horrible bush fires in Australia last year.

The exhibition will run through 24 May.  If you are in Beijing, check it out.

Here's some of the highlights chronological like.

Installation




BBQ


Catherine with Michael Ngiam and Tess Lin (gallery managers)


The pressure of a name.  Artist and dance choreographer.

Ambassador's Party

Swanky digs. Much more at ease than the USA embassy.


Ambassador Dr. Geoff Raby greets Shen Shaomin who made a documentary film titled "I am Chinese"


Catherine Croll, curator of the exposition and the youngest artist in the show, Muzi Li


Guo Jian (painter), Wang Zhiyuan (mixed media), Xiao Lu (performace artist and mixed media), not sure about the guy with the gotee, and Yang Xifa (painter)

Opening

Dr. Laurens Tan (sculptor) and Tony Trimbath


Lin Chunyan in front of one of his works



Tony Scott from China Art Projects and Lindy Lee (mixed media artist)


Chen Ping (painter), Alice Dittmar (artist in residence), don't know who the three in the middle are and Deng Zhong (sculptor) is on the far right


Di Wu standing on the mandala he designed with a reporter.  The security guard behind them did not know Di Wu was the artist.


Some of the acrobats who performed live

Auction

Linda Ma (owner of the Linda Gallery)





You cannot always afford what you want, even for charity

Brian Wallace (founding director of Red Gate Gallery)


Ian Tang showed up in his Lamborghini (Jackie Chan's manager)


Cheers to Kate for a job well done and to all the artists who helped raise over 500,000RMB from the charity auction.

Your Moment of Silliness

Few nights ago, Stephen and Terence came in from Alive not Dead's Hong Kong lair to host an event for artists in Beijing at Jazz-Ya.  Basically, it was a chance for them to introduce AnD to some new artists, share some changes here in China with Tom.com and let some artists highlight their work.  There were a couple of musical performances, including Number and a young man who's name escapes me (somebody clue me in).  We were also privilaged to a couple of sneak peaks on upcoming projects including producer Beaver Kwei's new film: Sophie's Revenge.  And Stephen had a cool history of AnD leading up to the 2nd Anniversary Party soon to happen in Hong Kong.  It also provided me a great opportunity to test my new camera.  Throw in some drinks and food and it was a great party.  Big thanks to Stephen and Terence for hosting such a great night.  As usual, I bowed out before the karaoke got underway, so for that you will need to check up on Wu Di.  I'm sure he will post something.  I would appreciate any help on the identity of people in the photos too.


Hangin' with AnD at Jazz-Ya in Beijing!




Number croons while Terence, ever the decorous
host, sits in as mic stand.



Among the many freebies that night were Aids Concern AnD condoms


Early on, Bob lost count of how many he drank or
which gang sign was his.



Stephen and some of the staff from Tom.com who are helping AnD grown in China





We learned that night that Number is going back to Malaysia.  We will miss her!


Director Dayyan Eng and friends take their leave.  Thanks AnD for the great night out!

Last week, I went to Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau to visit some old friends, hook up with some new ones and buy a special someone that perfect gift. Wait a minute, I got back last week - where did the time go?  I got to: listen to Jesse Warren spin tunes at two clubs in Shenzhen (including my favorite place for live music in China - C:Union), listen to Dirt Star perform live in HK at the Backstage with William Money and Lian Ying, meet several AnD artists for the first time including David from GTOX, Pauline C  and Sommer, hang with Pat (Mr. Rottendoubt himself), Boon (sometimes known as Booooon!), the guys from Made in Hong Kong, Spencer Douglass and too many other people to name here (this post reaks of name droppings).  Huge thanks to all those who provided a bed or couch for me to crash on, especially Dave Learn for tollerating my presense for three nights.  Appologies for the lack of photos, I did not take a camera.

Because....

I went to Hong Kong to buy this one:



The Canon 5D Mark II.  Great SLR with one tiny little bonus thrown in, it shoots 1080HD video too.  The perfect gift for me.

More photos soon, I promise.