UCCA shows the way forward for 798

New art center promises to envigorate Chinese contemporary art scene.

The much-anticipated opening last November of the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) in Beijing’s 798 Art District signified the beginning of a new era in China. It arrives at a time when the work of a generation of artists including Zhang Huan, Cai Guoqiang, and Zhang Xiaogang are selling for record prices. Yet the UCCA, founded by retired Belgian businessman Guy Ullens and his wife Myriam, is a non-profit operation with an emphasis on exhibitions and cultural programming, including film and music.

With a collection of more than 1,500 works, the center represents the largest museum devoted to Chinese contemporary art by both established and emerging artists. Housed in an 86,000-square-foot building, the vast space is set among galleries and artists’ studios in the former industrial complex in Beijing’s northeastern suburbs.

On March 1st Frenchman Jérôme Sans joined UCCA as its new director. This marks a new phase of developments following the center’s successful launch led by the previous artistic director, Fei Dawei. Jérôme Sans is among the most creative and adventurous personalities working in today’s art scene - he is renowned for rethinking the curatorial practice and approach, first as an independent curator, and then as an inventor of new models of institution, such as the world acclaimed Palais de Tokyo in Paris that he co-founded and directed until January 2006.

Commenting on his reasons for coming to China, Sans explains, “It is truly exciting to be involved in China’s art scene right now. There is a huge and growing interest in art here - part of an appetite for all things cultural. There is an energy here - it reminds me of the US in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I wanted to be part of what was happening, to be able to participate and contribute.”

Sans feels that the UCCA can help to take the 798 area forward, and to bridge the gap between East and West through art. He comments, “798 is a fanstastic neighborhood, with such a dense cultural presence. I want UCCA to be a beacon, a lighthouse within this space. I want this center to have a dynamic relationship with China and Chinese artists - to be an open platform for dialogue that can benefit everybody.”

UCCA will feature work by both Chinese and international artists - a number of Chinese artists have been commissioned to produce work that will be shown long-term in the Center. On July 17th part of the famed Ullens collection of Chinese contemporary art, which Guy Ullens has built since the mid-1980’s, will come to China for the first time, and will be displayed in the UCCA until after the Olympics.

Images by Daniel Allen

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