Archives For john

Talent and instinct

john —  June 19, 2013
Mao Yan presents his first solo exhibition at Pace Gallery at 798 Art Zone in Beijing. Zhang Zixuan / China Daily

Mao Yan presents his first solo exhibition at Pace Gallery at 798 Art Zone in Beijing. Zhang Zixuan / China Daily

A star of China’s contemporary art world, painter Mao Yan says his work doesn’t reflect his favorite old masters but his own state of mind. Zhang Zixuan reports.

With center-parted short hair and baggy old jeans, 45-year-old Mao Yan looks more like a rebellious youth with the bearing of a sharp and sensitive artist.

The vanguard painter is said to be the most difficult to define among today’s Chinese art icons. His brushworks are extremely contemporary, though the artist claims to have a serious classicism complex.

He has stayed in Nanjing for years, while other artists proceeded northward, flocking to the capital.

Despite the multifaceted symbols and concepts emerging in the endless stream of contemporary Chinese art, he sticks to portraits, the most traditional subject of easel painting that has gradually been pushed aside by newer art forms.

“Painting to me is an instinct,” Mao says. “I don’t like doing things ‘on purpose’, and I have no need to prove myself just for a trend or an idea.”

At Pace Gallery in Beijing, Mao is presenting his first solo exhibition after signing with the gallery.

Featured works include several pieces from his best-known Thomas Series from the late 1990s and a few unconventional portraits of animals. Two large-scale portraits of naked women painted this year are the artist’s first-ever showing of this kind.

Mao was named the most influential oil painter of 2012 at the 7th Award of Art China in May. He along with three other artists will also be announced as the 2013 Martell Artists of the Year in mid-June.

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In 798 Art Zone
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Green light for Beijing cab fare hike

john —  June 10, 2013

A man takes a taxi near Beijing Railway Station, June 6, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

A man takes a taxi near Beijing Railway Station, June 6, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

Beijing will raise taxi fares from Monday in a bid to improve drivers’ income and address complaints about poor service and cab shortages during peak times.

The starting fare will increase from 10 to 13 yuan ($1.60 to $2.11) for the first 3 kilometers, and the fare per subsequent kilometer will go from 2 to 2.3 yuan, according to the much-debated plan by the Beijing Development and Reform Commission.

The reservation fee is 6 yuan when passengers book four hours in advance and 5 yuan within four hours, while the fuel surcharge is 1 yuan per ride.

Authorities said on Thursday the reforms will boost operation efficiency, as well as the attendance rate during rush hours.

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Cabbies are expected to see an annual income increase of 1,400 yuan, the commission said, and passengers will pay an extra 3.3 yuan a ride on average.

Some residents said they support the fare hike, which they believe could ensure a ride, especially during rush hours.

“It’s worth an extra 3.3 yuan to get to your destination on time,” said Zhao Kunyun, a 29-year-old accountant.

The changes have been made based on views from all sides, the commission said.

At a public hearing in May, 23 of the 25 representatives supported the plan, which included hikes in the starting fare, waiting fees and reservation fees.

The commission said it takes 20 days to have taxi meters adjusted and the city will adopt two charge levels in the meantime. Taxi companies will cover the cost of changing the meters, it said.

In addition, passengers will receive a receipt covering fuel surcharges and reservation costs instead of separate invoices.

(Source: City of Beijing June 7, 2013)

In Travel / Traffic
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WeChat now has over 50 million users outside China

john —  May 26, 2013


See article: Shanghaiist.com

In Internet / phone ,
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Ancient Carriage Meets Old Fasioned Tricyle

john —  May 12, 2013

Apr26_BillboardWhat orig­i­nally drew my atten­tion to this bill­board was the paint­ing of the old Chi­nese horse-drawn car­riage and the tri­cy­cle parked in front of it. I thought the idea of show­ing the ancient trans­port with the more mod­ern pedal pow­ered made an inter­est­ing jux­ta­po­si­tion. When I first came to China in the late 1980s the cycle still dom­i­nated the roads and more than 90% of the traf­fic was bicy­cles. Nowa­days the traf­fic is 90% cars with fewer and few pedal cycles. I’d love to find my old pho­tos from that period, but I think they are in stor­age some­where in the UK prob­a­bly at my par­ents house. So next time I go back to the UK I will try to dig them out. As Can­thy is often ask­ing to see old pho­tos of me from my first trip to Bei­jing in 1988.

(Blog posted by Ray on April 26, 2013. You can see the original article by following this link to rayallychina.com)

Related photo:

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Photo taken in Beijing World Art Museum on May 19, 2013.

In Streetscape
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Bartering in Beijing – Silk Market

john —  May 5, 2013

In Silk Market
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