The 798 Arts Centre in Dashanzi, in north-east Beijing, recently added a newcomer to its list: the Iberia Centre for Contemporary Art. It opened in mid-April at the close of the "Year of Spain" in China, this space has serious potential.

Gao Ping, who already was at the basis for the International Foundation for Art and Culture in Madrid in 2007, was at the start of the Iberia Centre for Contemporary Art which opened on April 15 in the 798 Dashanzi complex in Beijing. Its goal, just like its counterpart in the Spanish capital, is to raise awareness of contemporary art, especially Chinese contemporary art.

Where the Centre Iberian really stands out from his peers, is in its desire to reflect the dynamism of independent Chinese film, especially documentary filmmaking, by collecting original films and in facilitating their access to a wide audience. The Centre for Independent Film Archives offers a free viewing with daily projections. It also rents out professional equipment.

From the outside, the facade of the building symbolically reflects the ambition of becoming a cultural bridge, with its huge red brick wall that creates a brand new unity among three originally quite distinct sites. The inside offers 4,000 square meters of space, of which 1,200 is dedicated to the main exhibition hall, and offers an eclectic selection, of which 70% is devoted to Chinese art and about 30% to international art, with a strong emphasis on Hispanic art.

Some creations are installed in very traditional "white spaces" which puts their classicism in the similarly classical former industrial brick complex, typical of this area; others are at the heart of the old mill and benefit from a 5 to 11 meter high ceiling.

 In perpetual evolution

The space inside has not been used to its full potential, but the possibilities are clear to the observer. The many cinemas and offices are built in a transparent structure that freely lets in light. The project is signed Liang Jingyu, a renowned Chinese architect, founder of the agency Approach Architecture Studio, and who represented China at the biennale Art and Architecture event of Sao Paulo in 2005.

But a feeling of unfinished work and potential fills the air of the structure. Due to lack of time, the center opened before being completed. The architect placed a moving hypothesis on his website, the proposition is to make the building "a permanently unfinished project, in the expectation that artists and their works are will alter it." Cleary, this shows a willingness that with every new piece the Centre will continue in perpetual evolution.

This does not however, prevent a few adjustments. "We plan to build a gallery nearby whose profits will be used to support a portion of the costs of the Art Center, as well as a projection room with 150 seats (current capacity is 50 people)," said Dou Zi, the Director of Promotion and Media. "Studios will also be made available to artists wishing to pursue their artistic projects in Beijing. But the priority is to complete the main building and to open the cafeteria to promote a friendlier atmosphere," she says.

Just like an octopus, the art center will therefore extend over several adjacent sites, and will make its presence felt throughout the neighborhood. Nothing is too ambitious to promote contemporary art!

Practical Information:
Address: 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxian Qiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
Opening hours: 10AM to 6PM (closed Monday). Admission is free.
Website (in Chinese, Spanish and English): http://www.iberiart.org

Written by Von Thi-Muong-Hane
Photos: Wang Zhuo
August 2008