Wang Guangyi in London

Wang Guangyi and Louise Blouin.

New works by Wang Guangyi are on view at The Louise Blouin Institute in London through March 17, 2009. The Aario artist’s first major solo exhibition in the U.K., Wang Guangyi: Cold War Aesthetics spans two floors of the Institute, and includes both sculpture and painting.

From the Institute’s website:

This ambitious show by one of China’s most celebrated living artists, is both a reflection on the imagery of Cold War era China, and a warning to contemporary audiences about the horrors of war. The exhibition, referencing illustrated manuals created by the Chinese government depicting how to react to a nuclear or biological attack, represents the potential catastrophic past of the Cold War that has been avoided while simultaneously pointing to future threats lurking on the horizon. For Wang and for the viewer, the metaphor is clear; avoid a return to a Cold War mentality at all costs.

The exhibition will include an installation of some fifty life-size sculptures that depict Cold War preparedness, a large-scale twelve-panel mural and a series of watercolours that serve as the sketches for the sculptural works on display.

The show is accompanied by an extensive education program of public lectures, panel discussions, educational workshops and music recitals aimed at exploring and investigating contemporary Chinese art, culture and society. A full-colour catalog with essays by renowned Chinese art critic and essayist Huang Zhuan is available at the Institute.

See more photos from the private preview opening at Artinfo.com.

Pulse Miami 2008

A maquette for Pulse Miami.

 
In just a few weeks, Arario Gallery will participate in Pulse Miami for the first time. The art fair takes place December 3-7, 2008, and runs concurrently with Art Basel Miami Beach (and like a million other fairs and events). If you’re in the area, visit our booth (B-101) where we will feature works by Hyunjhin Baik, Sang-ah Choi, Leslie de Chavez, Wei Dong, Osang Gwon, Jitish Kallat, Hyung Koo Kang, Hyungkoo Lee, Dongwook Lee, and Agus Suwage. 

Our photographer, graphic designer, art handler, and jack of all trades, YJ (short for Youngjune Ham), built this maquette of our booth. To begin planning the installation, the directors have printed some mini-paper versions of works for sale such as Hyung Koo Kang’s painting Untiled, 2006, on the left. Obviously, the layout is still a work in progress.

Click here to read the latest press release from Pulse Miami or here to see the floor plan.

Arario New York Director in Manhattan Magazine

Arario New York’s co-director Thorsten B. Albertz is featured in Manhattan Magazine’s latest issue. Dubbed “The Connector” of the New York art scene’s next generation, he talks about his move from Ardnt + Partner to Arario, his first taste of Chinese art, and his personal collection. An excerpt from his interview with Sophie Donelson:

New York is a very important art market, and we want to develop it. But New York is not willing to spend money right now. This is a gallery, not a museum; we need to make money every month. So we focus on getting critical acclaim. Careers are being decided here…Selling, we can do that elswhere.