宋荘―北京のアートの心臓｜中国で最もアートな“村”の現在

宋荘―北京のアートの心臓｜中国で最もアートな“村”の現在

this place where sculptures and street art appear at every corner is the songzhuang art district in Tongzhou Beijing thirty years ago artists left the heart of the city and built their studios and homes among fields and villages from that moment on song Zhuang was no longer just a name on the map it became a witness to the rise of Chinese contemporary art a place where ideals collide with reality here behind every sculpture and every canvas unfold stories of freedom of choices and of perseverance today more than a thousand artists live and work here some paint in humble courtyards others construct installations in vast factory halls within limited space and resources they reveal astonishing creativity constantly experimenting constantly searching for new forms of expression songzhuang is now hailed as one of the most vital centers of Chinese contemporary art every day new works are born here and new stories continue to be written in front of my camera they share their bond with songzhuang and their hopes for the future The Songzhuang Art Festival originated from the “Songzhuang Road” thematic exhibition founded in 2005. At that time, artists displayed their works along the street — spontaneous and lively. My friend and I stepped into a small shop. My friend wanted to buy a birthday gift for his younger sister. After chatting, we learned that the shop owner was an artist, and these ornaments were all her creations. Seeing our interest in Songzhuang, she warmly began to introduce the place to us. This area is called the Art Living Plaza. The shop owner is the curator of this plaza. This sculpture is quite famous in Songzhuang. The figure depicted is named Chen Zilan. Placing this sculpture here not only attracts visitors and showcases the artwork, but also adds a sense of warmth to the environment. It allows more people to feel resonance and emotional connection. The sculpture’s title is: “When consciousness exists independently of the body, I find myself resonating with the universe.” Ahead lies a rest area where visitors can enjoy coffee and light meals. This large sculpture belongs to the “White Night Fairy Tale” series of figurines. The rest area is filled with many “Little Fat Boy” sculptures, creating an interactive atmosphere for guests. It adds a sense of friendliness. The owner’s name is A Luo. She then took us to visit her gallery. Outside the gallery, we met an artist from Liuzhou who was painting. This is Songzhuang’s landmark — the Naming Tower. It was built in 2009. A Luo then led us to another gallery. Its name is quite interesting — “Is This a Gallery.” Why such a name? This collection is called “The Garden of Desire.” It uses poppies to symbolize the world of desire driven by materialism. It’s said the artist has a large studio elsewhere — this space is small, so only a few works are displayed here. That’s why it’s called “Is This a Gallery.” The artist’s photo — he’s quite handsome. While resting in the plaza, a friendly stray cat came over. It probably belongs to a nearby shop — very affectionate. Let’s enjoy a few groups of sculpture works immersively. Haha, could this be a “living sculpture”? It seems new commercial facilities are under construction here. Following A Luo, we arrived at her studio — an unexpected highlight of our visit. It was wonderful to gain deeper insight into local artists’ lives in Songzhuang. A Luo’s “Old Beijing Hutong” series of paintings is titled “Beijing Stories.” Gulou Street Qianmen Taihe Gate Corner Tower of the Forbidden City Hutongs near Drum Tower A Luo’s representative works combine Chinese and Western styles. She paints Chinese landscapes on oil painting canvas. We also met another painter — A Luo’s husband. I want to integrate the art of line, Western painting, and Chinese painting together. To express it using Western artistic techniques. Although it’s just a simple line, it must also carry variation and rhythm. I use the simplest lines, the simplest language, to express my work. Regarding the overall development of Songzhuang’s art scene— Could you introduce it to us, Mr. Chen? Actually, when Songzhuang first began, it was just wheat fields and wasteland. There weren’t many artists back then, nor tall buildings like today. Around 1998, many artists from art academies moved here from the Yuanmingyuan area, forming an art village. In 2004, the first Songzhuang Art Festival was launched
(*Correction: it actually began in 2005.) In 2005, we displayed our paintings along both sides of the street. The exhibition lasted about seven days. Tens of thousands of visitors came— from both China and abroad. And little by little, it grew into what it is today. You’ll notice that many buildings have unique designs— that’s part of our pursuit of artistic individuality. At that time, Songzhuang lacked large-scale art installations, so from the very beginning, we wanted to turn this container-based Art Living Plaza into a massive art installation itself. Because art originates from life and transcends it. The megaphone-shaped structure symbolizes people from all walks of life coming together, to collectively shape and build the spirit of our art. This is about making Songzhuang a hub of art and creativity— a true cultural landmark. After leaving the artist’s studio, we wandered freely around Songzhuang. As night fell, our visit came to an end. If there are other places in Beijing you’d like to see, leave me a comment below. I’ll do my best to find time to film them. See you in the next episode!

In the eastern suburbs of Beijing lies a quiet place far from the city’s noise — the Songzhuang Art District.More than thirty years ago, a group of artists with big dreams left the city and built their studios among the villages.Since then, this has become one of the most open and vibrant centers of contemporary Chinese art.
Today, Songzhuang is no longer just a name on the map — it has become a way of life and a symbol of spirit.In its ordinary streets, artists use painting, sculpture, film, and music to capture the emotions of our time.Amid old houses and modern spaces, they express through creation the distance between ideal and reality.
Whether you wish to explore Chinese contemporary art, experience the daily lives of its artists,or simply see another side of Beijing beyond the city center,join the journey through the lens, and step into this “art center built in a village” — Songzhuang.
❤️ This film was made possible with the kind support of painter A Luo and Mr. Chen — with heartfelt thanks ❤️