Impressions from the Void Visuals Solo Exhibition at the ZFJ-Gallery 2011
and images from the Art District 798 Beijing, China

The 798 Art District in Beijing is a huge former industrial area that was abandoned in the mid of the 20th century. In the early 90's artists and creative people started to settle and work there due to the low costs and the large spaces for their ateliers and galleries. During the years more and more artists and galleries joined and today the district is officially recognized and supported by the city of Beijing and has expanded increasingly. In 2011 more than 600 galleries, ateliers, shops and exhibition areas have settled down in 798 and the area has become a cultural hot spot and a focal point for innovation, creativity and art in Beijing.

In the two weeks of fall 2011 I was very impressed by the avant-gardistic atmosphere, the mix of old and new and all the events, street artists and musicians at every corner. The art bookstores there were grand and I could have spent days in there. To look into every gallery and exhibition would take at least a couple of days to over a week. What I am especially happy about is that there are so many critical artworks towards society and politics - the artists have to be clever enough though to make it not too obvious, but I hope that new ideas, new impulses and potential for change are carried out from 798 to the Chinese population.

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