Barcelona December 2009

I haven't had time to process. I realize that even with digital technology to help speed things up, I still like the speed of film and time to process. Not having had my own space for some time now, my mind is just jumbled with external information. Maybe living quietly in the country would suit me. Just me and Meta. Though I am recognizing the desire for a partner, I am also recognizing that finding an good mate might be a life long challenge that only fate can arrange. Openness on my part is what I can control, but the rest...Meanwhile, I have started my search for alternative life plans.

For now, here is my basic itinerary from my trip to Barcelona. 


Day 1: Friday, 4/12/09

Arrived early in the morning, after about 7 hours in the air from JFK.

Aerobus to the center of town at Plaça de Catalunya (approx. 30 mins)

Missing my intended stop at Plaça de la Universitat, I back tracked in the beautiful morning light towards Carrer de Muntaner and my Barcelona apartment. Instructed to walk "up" Muntaner, against traffic, I finally arrived at my destination: 93-5-3 Muntaner. And by fifth floor, I mean 7 flights up with luggage. Not fun, but the apt is very special. Like being on my own little boat with small boat-sized compartments, bathroom and bedroom. The apartment belongs to a photographer named Darius. Upon arrival, I was amused to see so many similarities in choices of books, films, ways of organizing...
Generally, I find male photographers to be organized, clean and able to plan ahead. Darius is prototypical. The only difference is there are many photos of nude women laying around the apt, while I just have the one of a young boy, casually left unframed on the shelf in the kitchen. After acquainting myself with the shower and hot water situation here, I joined the masses in siesta! Set the alarm to wake me for the Modernist Building walking tour and crashed. Cold and tired, as close to the electric heater as I could safely manage.

I woke up a bit late and my hair was crazy. Tried to tame it and get out the door as fast as I could. Didn't have time for a leisurely stroll toward the Placa Catalunya Tourism Office, so had to hail a cab. It's always hard to know what the protocol is for hailing cabs in different cities and countries. As a New Yorker, I just raised my hand and stood by the nearest intersection. It took a few rounds of lights, but got one! 4 euros later I was back in Plaça de Catalunya looking for 17S, not knowing yet what "S" could stand for. Asked a uniformed man where the office was in my best Spanish and he pointed toward the center of the plaza and said go down the stairs in English.

Found the right desk, but no attendant. Ran outside and found the group, but the guide told me to I had to turn in my voucher first and get the program. Needless to say, they left me while I waited in line to talk to someone about the damn voucher. Pretty lame. At least I left with the pamphlet and map of the tour. Heading out, I tried to "catch up" to get something out of the 12 euros I had spent, but alas, I was meant to walk it alone. Blessings in disguise. So, after a bit of fumbling and orienting myself to the map, I wandered up Rbla. Catalunya, passing number 2 on the tour, Casas Pon i Pascual, at the corner of Pg. Gracia.

The Official Tour Book lists these sights:

1. Palau de la Musica Catalana

2. Casas Pon i Pascual; Cases Antoni Rocamora

3. Casa Pia Batillo

4. Editorial Montaner i Simon - Fundacio A. Tapies

5. Mansana de la Discordia, Casa Batllo, Casa Amatller & Casa Albert Lleo Morera

6. Casa Vidua Marfa

7. Casa Pere Milla i Camps "La Pedrera"; Casa Ramon Casas

Day 2: Saturday, 5/12/09

Jet Lag. Woke up at 4 am and planned the trip to Cadaques. Fell back asleep and woke up around 4 pm. There goes the day. Good thing I'm in Barcelona, where the night is just as important as the day!

Met Barry for a coffee. Spent a few hours catching up! Things are going well for him and he has done some really fun things since I knew him in Athens, GA.

Will post some links to some commercials he stared in. Every artist has a day job at some point in the trajectory. Looks like he has been having fun! And much more lucrative than my non-profit work and even the editing/production work. I'm considering getting into voice work...

Day 3: Sunday, 6/12/09

Katie P arrived

I began to loose track of things...

Day 4: Monday, 7/12/09

00073 TALGO

08.37

10.24

1 h. 47 min.

We missed the train, but were able to catch one a bit later. In order to keep the promised pick up time with out hotel in Cadaques, we had to skip the Dali Museum and head straight from Figueres Train Station to the Bus heading for Cadaques. All worked out in the end, but we were off to a shaky start. Travel is all about being able to react quickly to unforeseen events. Part of the adventure.

BARCELONA-SANTS

Renfe Train to Figures (€18.60 round-trip

Estació de Renfe-Figueres

Autobús Figueres - Cadaqués (Sarfa Bus to Cadaqués 60 min, €4.75)

Arrive in Cadaqués

Car from Hotel waiting for us...Cadaqués to Port Lligat.

Check in to Hotel Sol Ixent, Sant Baldiri, 10, +34972251043

reserves@hotelsolixent.com

Walk to House-Museum Salvador Dali

Cala de Portlligat - 17488 Portlligat

TICKET PICK-UP

Tour Portlligat (50 mins)

Dinner at the Hotel Sol Ixent. (approx $60)

Day 5: Tuesday, 8/12/09

Woke up before dawn and walked out toward the edge of the cliff by the water to watch the sun rise.

I needed this alone time and felt grateful for being able to see a sunrise over the Mediterranean Sea.

Breakfast Buffet then Check out

Self-guided tour the natural surroundings of Cap de Creus and town of Cadaqués

Sarfa bus back to Figueres (60 min, €4.75)

Arrive in Figueres

Walk to Dali Museum

Renfe Train to Barcelona (approx 2 hours, $30 round trip)

Arrive in Barcelona

Dinner at Made in China, just across the street. Really nice spot and very good food.
Bonus: wifi (pronounced wee-fee) libre!

Day 6: Wednesday, 9/12/09

Days back in Barcelona, started off slowly.

 I headed out leaving Katie in the apartment.

CCCB had an amazing show of photo journalistic images.
WORLD PRESS PHOTO 2009
International professional photojournalism exhibition

For the fifth consecutive year, Photographic Social Vision Foundation, in collaboration with the CCCB, presents World Press Photo 09. The World Press Photo exhibition - a collection of the winning entries in the World Press Photo Competition - is internationally recognized as the most important touring exhibition of photojournalism in the world. As well as displaying the best photographs of 2008, it is also a historic document of the main news events of the year.

MACBA had a couple shows up: John Cage and other conceptual artist influenced by Modernism.

Without working cell phones, it was hard to know what to do in an event that one of us missed a meeting time, so after waiting for an hour and a half, I decided to find lunch and go ahead into MACBA, but i rushed through worried about Katie and what had happened. I walked around the Rabla Area until I found an internet computer station, where it cost me 2 Euro for and hour. Finally, was able to reach Katie through email and find out she was in the apt. Locked in...A comedy of errors. But actually she was happy to stay in and get some work done. I rushed home and we went for dinner at Los Caracoles in the old Gothic Area. After dinner, we went to Club Pippa, which is off the placa Reial. A place I had learned about through researching Barcelona prior to the trip. It was a pipe smoking club by day and an bar by night. THIS is the night I got my phone stolen! Walking after dinner from the Gothic are across to lower Raval, in search of the absinthe bar. Everything after dinner, was a bad scene.

Day 7: Thursday, 10/12/09

Park Guell

Exterior of the Sagrada Famila (in time for night lights)

Walked to the Gracia Area and found Cal Boter, which was recommended by McKendree.

Lovely neighborly place.

We walked back and wandered into a neighborhood pub called the Philharmonic where we met Rob, the bartender and sound technician from Glasgow Scotland.

Day 8: Friday, 11/12/09

La Sagrada Familia

-under construction since 1882...

a location for one of my favorite films: Antonioni's The Passenger (1975)

Back to Sagrada Familia to go inside and up the tower on the lift.

Evening Mont Juic for the Magic Fountain Show and see the Mies Van Der Rohe Pavillion.

Ai Weiei had performed an intervention in the pool, filling it with a milky substance, transforming the clear water plane to a white opaque filled object. At night, the fountain and light show reflected on the glass walls of the pavilion, making it even more magical that I could have imagined. This is the place dan told me he didn't pay to go inside because he didn't see the point, when he could just look inside the glass walls. He has no idea. After seeing it for myself, I can tell you it was more than worth the 4 Euro to enter and walk through the space and experience the space from within.

Dinner at Napolian's south of the Mont Juic area.

Day 9: Saturday. 12/12/09
Carrer Gracia in Eixample Area
Tour of a couple of Gaudi's most famous buildings:

Casa Mila
1904 -1906 Case Batllo

El Born Area at night
Picasso Museum on Montcada to see special exhibit
English Pub called Palace
Dinner at a recommended pan Asian around the corner...

Day 10: Sunday, 13/12/09

Chinese for lunch in the neighborhood

DHUB
"Dressing the Body" Exhibit at Pedralbes
Avinguda Diagonal, 686 (Palau Reial de Pedralbes)

Aquarium
near Port Vel

Barry's Party...lost then re-directed to Lebanese Dinner

Day 11: Monday, 14/12/09

Early Morning cab to the airport.

Was just the right amount of time. Worn out and missing Meta and my home...

On Chasing a Dream: Researching how and why it went terribly wrong

I am working on figuring out the time line and details, as i am uncertain of the details of how I was transported from Tagong to Chengdu. In short, I suffered from serious Altitude Sickness and had a serious reaction to some drug interaction, as I was not sure what medicine I was given, but taking any and everything hoping it would make me feel better. I found out later that there is a warning on the interaction with diamox and aspirin, which may have been the reason why I did not wake up that Saturday morning, May 16, 2009, in Tagong, China.

May was my last month in China. I wanted to see a different face of China by traveling to Western Sichuan and into Yunnan. Beijing is in the North East about the same latitude as New York. Sichuan and Yunnan are Southern and reaches West. I had heard there are more minority groups there and wanted to get a feel of what Tibetans are like without having to go through the visa trouble and deal with extreme altitude of Lhasa. I had overlooked the fact that one of the main highlights of my month long planned trip started in a place called Tagong, which sits at the same altitude as Lhasa, 3700 Meters. I just wanted to go horse treking through the western landscape. Just me and a guide. See and live in nature from a very different perspective than I have ever experienced. Well, in focusing on the dream and cultural aspects I chose to remain relatively ignorant to some really important realities of traveling up to Tagong. It was a choice to try and live more suíbiàn. To try going against my nature to challenge my self and experience life differently. I guess there is a time and a place, and this was neither the time nor place to loosen up. Or at least not about logistical details that put my health in danger. Im lucky to have survived and come back without too much damage. The damage or scars are psychological and emotional, rather than physical. It feels like i tried for a beautiful and seemingly innocuous wave and wiped out bad. Really bad. There is always a chance for disaster, but i couldnt have even foreseen anything to this magnitude. Now, I am a bit scared. Scared to take chances and scared to believe in the good nature of things. Its like those kids that dont survive long because they were born not feeling pain. So they bang into things and hurt themselves all the time. They cant learn, because they are missing the critical component to learning. The pain. I feel the pain, but i mentally and emotionally cant except some things that seem so brutal. But its just nature. Maybe my missing link is that I can't seem to process the reality. I could be doomed to disillusionment and fall into obscurity hiding from reality. Im really afaid of that more than anything. I want to understand and be able to work within the difficulties, but I think I am a bit weak right now. A few major blows and I havent gotten back up. I need a little help. But what can you do? We are all responsible for our own well beings right? If i fall back and have to catch up when i regain my strength, then so be it. I think I am a survivor. or I used to think that. Now that i have seen how fragile I can be, it has just psyched me out a bit. I need tech support.



Some Interesting Facts and Figures from data collected post hospital trauma.

Elevation Comparison:

Tagong 3700 Meters (12,139 FT)

Kangding 2,560 Meters (8,399 FT)

Chengdu 500 Meters (1,640 FT)

New York 234 Meters (768 FT)

Beijing 43.5 Meters (142 FT)

Never been interested in climbing mountains, but here is a good resource to compare elevations by continent.


http://www.health-care-information.org/injuries/high-altitude-illness.html

Advises to not to increase the altitude at which you will sleep by more than 1,000 feet per day.

High altitude pulmonary edema - This refers to the abnormal deposition of fluid into the lungs, resulting in compromised air exchange and shortness of breath. The patient requires IMMEDIATE descent for the symptoms to abate. This problem usually occurs above 8,000 feet and its onset is progressive over 1 to 3 days.

High altitude cerebral edema - This refers to an abnormal swelling in the brain and is the most difficult complication to treat. It seldom occurs at levels under 12,000 feet.

High altitude illness, more commonly known as acute mountain sickness, refers to the effect on the human body from exposure to a lower barometric pressure (more precisely, the lower amount of oxygen).

Everything I can remember taking in the 3 days prior to being admitted into Hospital:

Sanlietong (Chinese aspirin)

Tibetan Rhodiola (Herb for altitude sickness)

Xin Nao Xin Jiao Nang (Chinese Pharma for altitude sickness ?)

Diamox (for altitude sickness, one dose taken, one not taken)

http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/dia1131.htm
Acute Mountain Sickness

The usual dose is 500 milligrams to 1,000 milligrams a day in 2 or more doses, using either tablets or sustained-release capsules. This medication is to be started 1 or 2 days before attempting to reach high altitudes. It attempts to prevent the effects of altitude sickness from quick ascents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetazolamide
Special warnings about Diamox

Be very careful about taking high doses of aspirin if you are also taking Diamox. Effects of this combination can range from loss of appetite, sluggishness, and rapid breathing to unresponsiveness; the combination can be fatal.


The highest I have ever been before Tagong:
Gunnison, Colorado, United States
Plateaus rise 1,200 to 2,400 meters (4000 to 8000 feet)
Even at this relatively low altitude, I remember how quickly water boiled and how easy it was to become intoxicated.

Water normally boils at 100 degrees Celsius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit under standard conditions at sea level (at one atmosphere of pressure). At higher elevations, where the atmospheric pressure is much lower, the boiling point is also lower.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_point

Silence

I was just packing my things and found this poem on the inside door of Emma's closet.
Wanted to share it with you.

<3
SJ

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrman

(c) Max Ehrman 1926

Final Days of Beijing 2009

These days life seems to be moving very quickly. I am counting my days and trying to take in and record all of Beijing I can before I say good-bye. Friends here ask if it is forever. I say never say never. Though I think if I return it would be to go to Kunming and Dali. That said, I've yet to see these places, but have plans to be there in early June, just before my final departure.

I have been a Beijing resident for a little over a year. Off and On.
I've seen the city transform a great deal through the pre-Olympic rush and post-Olympic lull. Now, its mostly like everyone has forgotten all about it. There are some residual benefits of course, like a well run bi-lingual subway system. Many road signs are in pinyin, as well. Sanlitun is the perfect example of what changed here. Once the only bar street foreigners were allowed to go to has transformed into an outdoor mega mall. The perfect spot for a new comer to be dropped off to shop, eat, and relax in a setting very familiar. Brands you know. Food you recognize. Spas to pamper your self and keep up any regular mantenaince. Its easy there. Crowed now with mix of Chinese and Forgeiners, this is the direction China is moving.

[more to come, days are short and weather is too nice! write more later]

Strawberry Music Festival ‘09

In addition to music, Shen promises Strawberry will be a place for your inner child. He describes his vision of the festival: young people jumping in trampoline castles to the sounds of Hedgehog while holding cotton candy the size of their heads. “Nothing is sweeter than childhood memories. I want that to be part of our dream as well,” says Shen. He is still working on acquiring the trampoline castle.

Strawberry Stage 13:00-13:40 SKO (死扣) 14:00-14:40 Omnipotent Youth Society (万能青年旅店) 15:00-15:40 Perdel (逃跑计划) 16:00-16:40 Nancheng Erge (南城二哥) 17:00-17:40 Hedgehog (刺猬) 18:00-18:40 Xiu Xiu (US) 19:00-19:30 Joanna Wong (王若琳) 20:00-20:40 Zhang Chu (张楚)

Love Stage 13:30-13:50 He Li (何力) 14:00-14:20 Hong Qi (洪启) 14:30-15:10 Youth (青年小伙子) 15:30-16:10 Steely Heart (钢铁的心) 16:30-17:10 Wu Zhuoling (吴卓玲) 17:30-18:10 AOK 18:30-19:10 The Lones (former L.A.B.F, 浪) 19:30-20:10 Left Right (左右) 20:30-21:10 Yu Yang (虞洋)

Electronic Stage 14:00-15:30 Shenyue 15:30-16:45 Donald Summer 16:45-18:00 Patrick Yu 18:00-19:15 Ben Huang 19:15-20:30 Eddie Lv 20:30-21:30 Dio


Saturday May 2
Strawberry Stage 13:00-13:40 Hua Lun (花伦) 14:00-14:40 The Offset: Spectacles (憬观：像同叠) 15:00-15:40 Arms and Legs (US) 16:00-16:40 Zhou Yunpeng (周云蓬) 17:00-17:40 The Life Journey (旅行团) 18:00-18:40 Brain Failure (脑浊) 19:00-19:40 Cao Fang (曹方) 20:00-20:40 Re-TROS (aka Rebuilding the Rights of Statues重塑雕像的权利)

Love Stage 13:30-14:00 Zhang Zhilin & Band (张志林与乐队) 14:20-15:00 Blue Garden (兰色花园) 15:30-16:10 Flying At Midnight (午夜飞行) 16:30-17:10 Lava OX Sea 17:30-18:10 Silent G 18:30-19:10 Kelly Cha & Orange Factory (查可欣 & 桔子工厂) 19:30-20:10 PANTHER (US) 20:30-21:10 The Thin Man (瘦人)

Electronic Stage　 14:00-15:30 Dan 15:30-17:00 Lydnb 17:00-18:30 Kay C 18:30-20:00 Blackie 20:00-21:30 Usami


Sunday May 3
Strawberry Stage 13:00-13:40 The Chinos (基诺) 14:00-14:40 Casino Demon (赌鬼) 15:00-15:40 Guai Li (怪力) 16:00-16:40 Wan Xiaoli (万晓利) 17:00-17:40 Sound & Toys (声音与玩具) 18:00-18:40 Lao Lang (老狼) 19:00-19:40 Sound Fragment (声音碎片) 20:00-20:40 Deerhoof (US)

Love Stage 13:30-14:10 Camel (骆驼) 14:30-15:10 Bigger Bang (大棒) 15:30-16:10 Pet Conspiracy (宠物同谋) 16:30-17:10 Hao Yun (郝云) 17:30-18:10 Shuangzi (爽子) 18:30-19:10 Amguulan (阿穆隆) 19:30-20:10 Long Shen Dao (aka The Dragon God 龙神道) 20:30-21:10 Xiao Juan & Residents from the Valley (小娟 & 山谷里的居民)

Electronic Stage 14:30-15:20 Iloop 15:20-16:10 Sulumi (孙大威) 16:10-17:00 Zigzag 17:00-17:50 Dead J (邵彦鹏) 17:50-18:40 LIman 18:40-20:05 Ouyang 20:05-21:30 J Swarz


¥80 (sold only at the door) Tickets
http://www.modernsky.com/news/news1075.html

All The Places I've Lived & Places I'm Going!

As the peony in Beijing bloom, I am reminded of the cycles of life.
I had some wonderful homes this winter, but the feeling of being unsettled was tiring.
Without a restful winter, spring is like being woken by the morning sun after a heavy night of drinking and playing. But it is beautiful, nonetheless.

Frasier Suites CBD 1218 Dave's place (DEC)
CaoChangDi CCD300 Studio (JAN)
Sun City Bulding 4 #702 Tyra's place (FEB)
Chinese Block near Beixinqiao Station Building 5 #602 Julie's place (MAR)
Yonghe Villa #509 Emma's place (APR)
On the Road (MAY)

When it comes to planning travel routes and hostels en route on the Tibetan Plateau, best be "suibian." With unpredictable travel restrictions for foreigners, one must be Zen about it all.

New Motto
随便
[suíbiàn] 1. verb
To go with the flow

Sounds like "sway be anne"

a great online Chinese English dictionary
http://www.nciku.com


May Schedule IN PROGRESS

May 10
Beijing to ChengDu (Sichuan Capital City)

May 10 - 13
Hostel in ChengDu
+ Panda Research Center
+ Walk the city on one year anniversary of the 2008 earthquake that made China stand still

May 13
Bus West to Danba or Kanding

May 14
Day rest

May 15 -16
Tagong about 3700m
Tagong in Tibetan means 'the favourite place of the bodhisattva'.

May 16 - 18
Horse Trek organized by Angela Lankford with http://www.definitelynomadic.com/cmtreks.html
Three day trek out of Tagong:

Day 1: Drive to Gyergo Nunnery early in the morning, and join the morning chanting circumnabulation of the mani stone pile. Commission a mani stone if you wish, and look at the general store. Explore the area until noon. Then leave on horseback for the Mjera Hotprings on the other side of the pass. Enjoy them at sunset, after a long day.

Day 2: Walk downhill three hours to a high pine forest. The guides will set up camp and we will hike up for a view of the lake, and a walk around it (seeing all the sights there, including an old meditation hut, a sacred spring, a stunning waterfall, and glaciers on the peak above).

Day 3: Ride this long day out of the mountain valley, back across the grasslands over a low pass, back to Gyergo. Spend the night there and then head out the next day back to Tagong and out.

We could change Day 3 to not make a loop to Gyergo, but to a different car pick up site along the road, and you could get to Kangding that day if need be. So, similarly, if Gyergo really interests you, we could spend most of a day there, and a night, on the way in, with the same total day number. It depends on your sense of hurry.

May 18 -19
Kangding
For centuries, the town has been the trade center of the Han and Tibetan cultures.
China for a popular Kangding Love Song / 康定情歌

May 20 - 21
Bus to Litang
Stay the night

Potala Inn - the best hotel in town, just cross the bus station and walk 10m ahead then turn to right. 20/head for Tibetan Style bed, shared bath room; Y160/std. room, 24hrs hot water. Both the owner and the young Tibetan guy in charge speak good English. The hotel is almost the base camp for foreigners in town. Tel.: 0086-836-5322533, email: meiduo25@yahoo.com.cn

http://www.chinatrekking.com/destinations/sichuan/litang

May 21 - 22
Bus to Xiangcheng
Stay the night

May 22 - 29
Bus to Zhongdian
Stay the week with Alicia and Mum/Friends*

The "Shangri-La" discovered by Joseph Rock in 1928

May 29 - 30
Early bus to Tiger Leaping Gorge
(if tired, spend night at Jane's Guesthouse P: 880 6570)
(29) Hike half way
Sleep at Half Way House P:
(30) Hike other half
Sleep at Sean's Spring Guest House www.tigerleapinggorge.com

Tiger Leaping Gorge Shangri-la
Tel：+86 0 887 820 2222
Fax：+86 0 887 880 6300
Email：tibetdragon2001@gmail.com
Web:http://www.tigerleapinggorge.com
备案：滇ICP备05005679号 Manager enter

May 31 - June 2
(31) Early bus to LiJiang
Sleep at

June 2
Early bus to Dali

June 2 - 4
Dali Old City

June 4
Night Train to Kunming

June 5 - 7
Kunming

June 7 Sunday
Early flight to Beijing

June 8 Monday
Rest

June 9 Tuesday
Early morning flight to ATL


HOMEWARD BOUND
2009

Living on the Edge (of Town)

I am staying in on a Friday night, which I love to do in Brooklyn, too. Tonight, it is a bit cold as the temps dropped from an unseasonably warm 70's to the 50's to remind us that Spring is just warming up. The heat was turned off the 15th of March. The whole country or at least the part that has heating, gets their heat turned off at the same time by law. To warm myself, I am drinking peppermint tea and listening to the longing moans of the Mongolian band Hanggai. It was recorded at Dos Kolegas the bar my girlfriends frequent and met their Chinese boyfriends at. The bar is located next to a drive in movie theater and feels like you are in someones dark basement in the winter and opens up to a nice outdoor space when it gets warmer. The guys who run the bar are all from the same town in NW China, Ningxia, the town where goji berries come from.

CCD is becoming more lively as winter thaws. More people around, new arrivals. An artist residency program is in the complex, which hosts foreign artists. At the moment, there is a woman video sculpture artist from Switzerland, named Katjia and a performance artist named Andreas from Berlin. The whole feeling here as shifted for me. Its like I am seeing it all for the last time, as new people come to experience it for the first. The studio represents a place of dreams and investments and a bit of emptiness. Not a real home, but sufficient for the time. The Mongolian throat singing is continuing, but has picked up its pace. Lightening up the mood.



SPRING IN BEIJING

We had an OPEN STUDIO party April 11, 2009.
CCD300 Artists:

Su-Jung Lee
Katia Loher
Ma Yongfeng
Andreas Sell

We have a old factory complex with a cement courtyard. We are flanked by a taxi motel, where the taxis and drivers come to eat and rest and an active railroad track. I find the sound of a midnight train relaxing. In Athens, GA and Roslindale, MA I lived close to the tracks. From the studio, I can see it directly outside of my window. The whole town is a construction site at the moment. There is dust and pollen floating around everywhere. Luckily, I'm staying in town cat sitting in a beautiful home near the Lama and Confucian Temples. Counting my lucky stars.

Preparing to get back on the road...

My studio is on the raised part of this space.
This is before I built walls, opened the windows, added track lighting, and a door.

Fight or Flight

"Fight or Flight" is a term used to describe acute stress response.
This is the title of my unwritten History of Boyfriends.
As Venus is in retrograde, I have decided to look back and try to resolves things with Henry before allowing myself to move forward without doubts.


March is the 2nd anniversary of my father's passing. In this time since 2006, how have I directed my life? At that point, I had no idea I would be in Beijing or that I would stay for so long. Life can surprise you completely. So to move forward, I have to look back.

March 14, 2007
My father, D.J. Lee, passed away suddenly. I received a panicked call from my mother. I had never heard her sound like this and only in hindsight can I even begin to imagine what she was going through in the first 30 mins as she waited for the ambulance to arrive. All she could say is that Dad was dying and I needed to come home immediately. I had a 16 week old German Shepherd puppy that had grown past airline under seat storage size. I had to think about how I was going to do this. At the time I didn't have a car, so I had to come up with a plan quickly. I called my sister first, as I did on 9/11. She was calm. She is always calm. Uncertain of the details, she said she had sent her husband Doug to Mom's. My brother called me soon after. I asked if he would be willing to drive with me and my new puppy. He was very accommodating and told me to meet him at his house in Jersey that night. We would drive through the night to get to Mom's by the next day. At the time, I had a doggie vest that read "Service Dog (with a interchangeable Velcro label) In Training." Meta had out grown carrying size and I needed her to be able to get on public transportation with me & I also did plan for her to get certified one day as a Therapy dog. Well, point is I had to get on the subway from Brooklyn, get to Penn Station, get on a NJ bus and commute another hour. She was great. Pee-ed in the middle of Penn Station, but other than that was very professional. We made it to NJ and drove south that night.

March 14, 2008
Return home to support my Mom. We hiked up to the tallest peak in Georgia, where the year before we had dusted Dad's ashes. We revisited this spot and had a family picnic.

I spent a month at home with my Mom to help her go to doctor's visits and help my sister who had been taking care of my little Meta, just over a year at this point. It was time well spent.

By the time my birthday came around, I decided I wanted to be back in New York. One of my best friends, Amy Mitchell, flew in to spend my birthday night with me and Meta at the Rivington Hotel. I threw myself a birthday party in the hotel bar and got to spend a great relaxed night catching up and feeling very loved. I turned 33. Henry sent flowers to the hotel and gave me a b&h gift card towards a new digital point and shoot I had been needing, as my first Sony cybershot had died.

March 14, 2009
This year, I will not be with family. I am in Beijing on my final trip for the foreseeable future seeing through some commitments and giving myself some time to heal and try to make art work and learn about China. Saturday TBD. The rest of my family will be with Mom. Meta included. She is now just over 2 years old (14 in dog years). I had told my Dad about Meta and sent him a photograph before he passed away. I think part of him feeling ok about me was knowing he had helped me buy my place in Park Slope and that I had started a family of my own in some way.

As the two year mark comes around, I am thinking of all the new things I've done and seen since. I hope my Dad would be proud of me for taking some chances for love and work, but I can only hope. There is a sense of freedom I have now, that is new too.

I am going to lead life with my heart. More so than ever and not hold back. This time I'm just going to let myself have fun and not worry so much. Or at least try. Will surround myself with people who make me laugh and can love me fearlessly. That is how I see my future.

Time Space Continuum and the Astrohair Clock

Getting a haircut after the new moon is meant to be good for strong and think growth.
If you are interested in timing your haircuts with the moon or at least finding out some interesting info about growth and moon phases, check it out at longhairlovers.com.

This February new moon on the 24th is in Pisces. The website above has this to say about cutting your hair in this phase:

The Moon in Pisces is watery and feminine and one of the most fertile signs so expect increased growth and thickness if you cut your hair during this moon. In fact, almost any hair goal can be achieved with success. Chemically processing your hair is favorable since so much moist energy is available. A Pisces moon is meant for reflecting on your connection to other people and the cosmos so use this time for intimate, serious, and inspirational conversations with the opposite sex. There’s a passionate quality to this moon that sets the stage for romantic encounters. Don’t let this moon pass you by without trying a superbly romantic, soft style. Deep auburn and chestnut colors enhance an amorous moment.

A salon chain I like here in China is Tony Studio.
My appointment is for 11 am February 25 Beijing time, 10 pm February 24 New York time.


This past trip I spent a lot of time discussing things like astronomy, quantum physics, and genius.
Though I am not very familiar with any of these topics, they are of great interest to me.
I dream of being able to navigate the seas using the stars and enjoy asking questions almost more than answering them. And I have been listening to Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, a book that looks at how genius happens and cultural factors that shape it. AWESOME.

Point is my mind is swimming with ideas. Spending time with Sonya who also has a very inquisitive mind, but might lean more towards answers than questions...lead to many fascinating conversations. She is hilarious and smart. A whiz and a whip all in one. We had a super time and were able to flow in and out of using Korean, which for me was a first. We had a ball.

Us in front of a waterfall that falls into the sea.
(Jeju Island, 2009)

To wrap up this segment on Time and Space, I would like to say that due to "spring-ing" forward Sunday March 8, 2009 in the continental US, I am only 12 hours difference now. After spending a winter in a 13 hour time difference, it is so nice to feel a bit closer to New York and my friends and family up and down the East coast.

Seoul for Valentines

The song that has me hopeful these days...

Bob Dylan's

Lay, Lady, Lay

Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Whatever colors you have in your mind
I'll show them to you and you'll see them shine

Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Until the break of day, let me see you make him smile
His clothes are dirty but his hands are clean
And you're the best thing that he's ever seen

Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Why wait any longer for the world to begin
You can have your cake and eat it too
Why wait any longer for the one you love
When he's standing in front of you

Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still ahead
I long to see you in the morning light
I long to reach for you in the night
Stay, lady, stay, stay while the night is still ahead

[This is what my lover would sing to me]

Koreans are totally into LOVE. ROMANCE. DRAMA.
It was the perfect place to come for this Hallmark holiday and get in touch with my roots.

I flew on the 14th, getting a lovely stamp on my visa for Valentines.
Was up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport by 6 am to make my 8:45 am international flight to Seoul. This 3 hour rule is ingrained into me like having to finish my plate. It is best to give that time, but I was plenty early, meaning I had to do some early morning Duty Free shopping and buy expensive airport cafe coffee. Ah, the rituals of air travel. I did get myself the red Chanel lipstick I've been wanting. Found out it is called "New York Red." How à propos? Why you ask?

Korean women take their looks very seriously. Wearing foundation and lipstick is as important as nice shoes. I have gotten used to going a la natural in so many ways, living single and not on the prowl in Beijing, where it is totally acceptable to go out in your pajamas at night. OK, well maybe not to the places foreigners frequent, but it is a very real local custom. Not just in the village I live in. You can spot it in the city too. Especially in winter when who can be bothered to get out of long johns to go to the corner deli to pick up milk or whatever. Anyway, "New York Red" is perfect for Seoul. I will have to behave like a real lady here. I will like having to do that. It feels much more civilized. After the studio with squat toilets and no running water in my bathroom, taking towel baths with boiled water from a sink in my room (thank goodness the water is flowing there). That's probably enough visualizing there!

SO, SEOUL is fabulous. Modern, clean, efficient, great food, and I can speak the language and understand even more than I can say. It is a lovely feeling. On top of that, most of the young people are into speaking English, so if in need, I can try in Korean first then switch to English as a second resort.
It is also culturally more similar to what I am used to in the States. A society with social standards like being polite to strangers and using trash receptacles! There are photo booths in the subway stations and a multi-use T money card (equivalent to the Octopus card for HK) that you can pay for public transit and convenience stores around town. People pay a lot of attention to how they look here, so like I said...lipstick, heels, hair. All done in your own style, but done! Cell phones work in the subway, taxi's abound, street food is good and readily available, the dollar is strong, and shopping is supposed to be amazing! Can't wait to see the independent designs in Myeong dong. My favorite West Village boutiques (Albertine & Claudine) owner told me it is great. And if you know her taste, you know it is a very high recommendation.

I have heard of Koreans as the Irish of Asia. Full of Passion, booze, and an underdog mentality. To be more specific, South Koreans and South Irish have a lot in common in terms of history, and therefore culture. Also, it could be a natural fire in the blood, which even under similar conditions other people may not have gotten such a reputation. I'm rather proud of being known for passion. That is the root of the booze and well the underdog mentality is due to historical circumstance. But I digress...

Basically, the young men in Korea are really cute and styled out. I think the soap operas have had a major influence on the youth of today. They are well-dressed, well-mannered, and sensitive! They want to push the baby cart, ya know! Maybe I should broaden my range of potential suitors?

Just the first day out, so stay tuned. I'll update as I go!

What I did in Seoul:
Seoul Subway Map

Met up with my friend Sonya who happens to be visiting family at the same time. When I heard she would be in Korea, I booked to try to have some time there together. We know each other from the freelance world in New York. It was so great to cross over into this new reality and get to know each other better. She had me in stitches laughing most of the time! It was a real healthy break from the intense soul searching and questioning I've been doing in China. We are both Korean American and speak some Korean, so doing some traveling together was an absolute hoot. She's like the hot brainy girl and I'm like the cute younger sister. We are essentially the same age, but there is an aura that makes Sonya come across as more adult. Even though we are older than we look, the Koreans were all very complimentary about our youthful appearance. I think it is just that we are both not married and have had no children. There is a term here called "old miss" to describe older non-married types, but there is also a term coined out of this term called "gold miss" for a new breed of women choosing to marry later in life or maybe not at all. Socially Korea has become much more liberal accepting "gold misses" and single mom's who never married. Its a whole new world to the one Sonya and remember from visiting in our younger days. There is progress.

Saturday
Travel Day
Time with Uncle and family

Sunday (Spent 114,000 won = $82)
Met up with Sonya Rhee(all the way from LA/NYC)!

Gyeongbokgung (Gyeongbok Palace)
The biggest of 5 Palaces in Seoul.
3,000 won Admission

National Folk Museum of Korea
Set up by the US military in 1945, hence the highlighting of western symbols such as a GE fan and Beatles album in the exhibitions. This is a cool museum and worth the trip. Don't forget to stop by the museum shop, as well. Free admission.

Samcheongdong
An area full of cafes and galleries. Perfect for a Sunday stroll, except in -4C.
Anguk station, line 3, exit 1*

ARARIO SEOUL (since 2002)
#149-2, Sokyuk-dong, Jongro-gu, Seoul, Korea

+82 2 723 6190

"On the Earth" paintings by Lim, YoungSun


free entrance to The National Folk Museum of Korea
2,000 won = Travel size bottle of contact solution ($1.50)
3,000 won = Ticket to Geoungbokgung ($2)
4,000 won = Paris Baguette latte, a crab burger from the same place, or a plate of lovely noodles in a cafe in the gallery area ($3)
5,000 won = Photo booth pictures and Ticket to the World Jewelry Museum ($3.50)
10,000 - 30,000 won = Earrings/gifts from some boutiques in the same area ($7 - $21)


Monday (Spent 160,800 won = $113)
Techno Mart (TM)
Subway Line No.2 to Gangbyeon Station, and go through the connecting underground pass.
10 or so floors of shopping
electronics, clothing, and food!
Prices didn't seem amazing. Maybe worth the trip to Youngsan.

Kwang Jang Market
Subway Line 1 Jongno 5(oh)-ga Station
7:00am ~ 7:00pm
Closed Sundays
Fabrics, blankets, buttons galore.
Amazing food on the ground floor! (get the bindetuk for 5,000 won)

60,000 won = 5 yards of fuchsia silk (12,000 won per yard) ($42.00)
32,000 won = 4 yards for some wool plaid (8,000 won per yard) ($23.00)
45,000 won = set of silverware for 10 ($32.00)
10,000 won = set of two batteries for Leica (5,000 each set) ($7.00)
4,800 won = cameo buttons (800 won each) ($3.50)
4,000 won = pink purse/gift ($3.00)
3,000 won = bag of roasted chestnuts ($2.00)
2,000 won = black plastic cameo broach ($1.50)
160,800 won = Spent

Tuesday
National Museum of Korea
Spend 3 hours in the first half of the first floor.
Beautiful museum and the archeology section was awesome!
Free admission for permanent collection.

Dinner with Uncle's family.

Wednesday
Flew to Jeju Island aka "Island of World Peace." Stayed at Ocean Grand on the less swanky part of the island and loved it. It is right on the beach and it was easy to get food and walk around.

Thursday
Hired a driver for the day. 100,000 Won (9 am - 6 pm)
Worth every bit!

Friday
Slept in and got a late start.
We liked our driver so much, we hired him the next day for a half-day.
Flew out after dinner, feeling good about what we saw.

Saturday
Sinsa is just south from Apgujeong, the "Rodeo Drive" of Seoul and hosts boutiques with local designers apparel and great little restaurants and coffee shops. My favorite shop was called UnderStar. In the basement space of a large building, just look for the antique dress form you can see through the doorway. I loved almost everything I saw, even if it wasn't all for me, they have really done a nice job. Prices are fair and you will know you've gotten something special. There is a popular chain selling a mix of vintage and modern second-hand clothing called 103, that has a website where you can shop. Rumor has it they will be opening a location in New York. They also carry a nice selection of coffee table and design books.


Sunday
DMZ Tour of the 3rd Tunnel and Observation Tower and the last train station in South Korea before entering into the North. The train and tracks are fully operational South-side, but the North has not opened the door for Koreans to pass through, only accepting material aid as cargo for the trains.
The tour meets in Seoul at 8 am and travel 45 mins North to the DMZ area. A tour with lunch costs 60,000 Won. Lunch is fine, but they drop you in a nice area in Seoul where you can go search out a place on your own too.


Monday
Last morning in Seoul. My Uncle and I are looking for a buckwheat pillow for me.
Its something I miss from my childhood. Lets see what I find.



The corn dog in SK is amazing! Sonya introduced them to me.
They are fried and have a crispy outer layer with a funnel cake like batter that wraps around the hot dog. It is a sweet salty explosion in your mouth. Not to miss, but make sure its fresh and fried!


TIPS for Travel in Korea:
Rent a cell phone at the airport. You cannot simply buy a sim card and insert to your international phone, like in China (and apparently in most other Asian/South Asian countries).

Korea is one hour later than Beijing.
UTC/GMT +9 hours

Latitude:	37° 35'	North
Longitude:	127° 03'	East

The Solutions to a Broken Heart

New York City in Miniature
(Shenzhen, China)

February, month six of healing
March, April, May to go...

The Solutions to a Broken Heart:
Acupuncture
Massage
Another Love
Food
Pets
Travel
Writing
Talking
Hiding
Sleeping
Running
Yelling
Venting
Vegging
Retreating
Other people's heart break stories
Music
Poetry
Cooking
Shopping
Organizing
Working
Dreaming
Walking
Collecting
Erasing
Remembering
Dissecting
Forgetting
Time
Letting go for your own health...

I would like to introduce you to my very special friend Poppy and
her poem that moved me beyond words.

Poppy Toland
I wanted to be your pet

I wanted to be your pussycat
And spend evenings curled up on your lap
But you told me you couldn’t stand cat hair
And your door didn’t suit a cat flap

I suggested being your sparrow
But you grumbled they’re much too chirpy
You worried my singsong wake up call
Would cut your sleep far too early

I offered to be a little red squirrel
Nestled behind your door
You shuddered to imagine those scuttling paws
Against your pinewood floors

So I asked to be your turtle instead
Living in my mobile place
You said I’d only hold you back
That small legs wouldn’t handle your pace

I asked to reside in your window box
A ladybird playing on your greens
You find creepy-crawlies offensive you say
Too many legs - just not your thing

Now you’re saying you just don’t like critters
And certainly not in your home
How I’d be better taking my menagerie off
And trying to go it alone

I realised whilst trying to be cute for you
With my fur and my wings and my whiskers
You’d reasoned we belong to insurmountably different
Phylum, and genus and species

So I took it all with me -
Heavy shell, all those feathers, every flea
Tail between legs, I slunk out of your life
And left you - free of animals and free of me.

***

Phil Collins
Against All Odds


How can I just let you walk away, just let you leave without a trace
When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh
You're the only one who really knew me at all

How can you just walk away from me,
when all I can do is watch you leave
Cos we've shared the laughter and the pain and even shared the tears
You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now, oh there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me,
just the memory of your face
Ooh take a look at me now, well there's just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against the odds and that's what I've got to face

I wish I could just make you turn around,
turn around and see me cry
There's so much I need to say to you,
so many reasons why
You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now, well there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me, just the memory of your face
Now take a look at me now, cos there's just an empty space

But to wait for you, is all I can do and that's what I've got to face
Take a good look at me now, cos I'll still be standing here
And you coming back to me is against all odds
It's the chance I've gotta take

Take a look at me now

[Now go listen to it and The Postal Service version]

you won't regret the aching feelings it brings on...
we can share a moment together thinking of how
we love heartbreak more than the heartbreakers.

XXX
SJ
Beijing, 2009

By Train, Plane, and Taxi

A loose translation of a proverb a man told me at a party this past summer:
The further you travel the more you learn*.
The Chinese character for the kind of knowledge you can gain from traveling is the same character used to describe the kind of knowledge you acquire from books, he said.

After arriving in Beijing Dec 3rd, having boarded the first leg of the trip on December 1st, I caught up on lost sleep and laid low to let my new reality sink in slowly. I was glad to have a slow and easy month at Dave's place. It was an ideal situation and I am grateful for this extra comfort.

The studio was not inhabitable upon arrival. Luckily, I had Dave's place to stay while I began to transform my studio to a live work space. In the process, with set backs like frozen pipes and no water or heat, I had a good reason to leave for a little while, giving these loose ends time to be resolved. The month of January is a slow month here because it is the build up to Chinese New Year. Things are quiet, people are away. Priscilla's visit came at a good time in terms of a good time to get out of Beijing for a while.

That said, planning travel in China close to the Chinese New Year is a real challenge. Priscilla came to continue some work on her project shooting "Fortune: The Retail Landscape of China." It took us down the coast to HK and southern China. In the span of just over 2 weeks time. The back end of January, which due to Mercury in retrograde, slowed progress on many levels. So why not travel with an old friend and start my exploration of other parts of China.

We jam packed half a dozen or more Malls and commerce related sites into this trip, while I focused on try local restaurants and habits & ways of life for the locals. Sadly, my point and shoot ran out of power and I had forgotten the reserve! It was just me, my Holga, and a little HD video camera this time around. Each of my cameras serve a different purpose. They are meant to capture different things, so there is a lack of daily routine documentation. So, I appologize, but I think I got some interesting stuff on flim and video. TBD...

Cameras are added weight and bulk. Its part of the problem of traveling. Add a laptop and camera to the clothes and shoes and winter into spring range of clothes...it adds up. All in all, Priscilla and I did quite well with two bags on wheels, our camera bags, and the occasional shopping bag. I definately have a few new travel tips under my belt.

1) Bring less and hand wash as you go. purchase a good pair of rubber gloves and a small bottle of detergent for delicates. (or just use the hotel soap)

2) Purchase travel size of your favorite toiletries. Hotels most often have shampoo, but not always conditioner or good body soap. While traveling familiar products with familiar scents will reduce over all stress.

3) Have a couple good collapsable bags. They come in real handy and are eco to boot!

4) Anticipate room needed for the odds and ends you pick up along the way.

5) Be prepared and have all your liquids and gels in one or two bags. When traveling by train it doesn't mater, but you know the rules for plane travel...

6) Do your homework ahead of time, so you don't wait too much time once you've arrived to figure out what you want to see and where you want to eat. I'm all for keeping your eye open for a tempting unknown which might pop up, but dont count on it!

7) Know your best options for getting and spending cash. Know how to not get killed with fees.
Its all in the small print, but it can save you a load of money in the long term.


Itinerary/Plan for "Fortune":

Jan 8
Depart Beijing on overnight train to Shanghai (Z7 7:44 pm)

Jan 9 - 10
Shanghai, Shanghainese spoken.
Old House Inn
No.16, Lane 351 Huashan Lu, Jing An
near Changshu Lu, Metro Line 2 Jing'an Temple Station
华山路351弄16号
近常熟路,地铁2号线静安寺站
6248-6118
Dinner at Citizen
Fabulous European style bar/cafe. Ambiance, clientel, and food, well worth the trip.

Dinner at Kareen's (Full Moon)
Good Indian, but not something to go out of your way for.

Jan 11
Depart Shanghai to Yiwu (D685 7:25 am) 2 hour fast train

Jan 12 - 13
Yiwu: Commerce City
Snow Peak Hotel

Jan 14
Depart Yiwu by plane to Shenzhen (CZ 3875 10:25 am)

Jan 14 - 17
Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (3 nights), Mandarin spoken.
Century Plaza Hotel
Window of the World

Jan 17 - 22
Hong Kong, Cantonese spoken.
Bishop Lei House
4 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong

香港羅便臣道四號
(852) 2868 0828
Chungking Mansions (TST Kowloon side)
Star Ferry

Jan 22 - 25
Guangzhou (3 nights) aka Canton, where Cantonese is still spoken widely.
Grand Palace

Jan 25
Fly back to Beijing (PEK) from Guangzhou (CAN)

Jan 26, 2009
Chinese New Year

Legend-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where we stayed
Highlights of the trip

2009 Year of the Ox

All those born in the year of the Ox must wear red underwear year-round, by Chinese tradition.

Happy New Year!!!


Shows in January 2009

CaoChangdi

Art Channel
THE AFFINITIVE BOND -
Paintings of Zhang Wuyun and Zhu Xinyu, Two Young Artists from Shenyang
No.249-3
East End Art Zone B

China Art Archives & Warehouse
FOREIGN BODIES
Artist: Gao Weigang
Curator: Ai Weiwei
15 Nov 2008 - 15 Jan 2009
(+8610) 8456 5152
Gallery Hours: 2:00 - 6:00 pm, Wednesday - Sunday.

Chambers Fine Art Beijing
CO 2008: A Group Exhibition of Young Chinese Artists
Dec 27, 2008 - Feb 15, 2009
+86 10 51273298
Red No.1-D

DoArt
Jia Aili's Hibernation
Nov 14, 2008 - Spring 2009

F2
Group Show (closes March 1)
no. 319, Caochangdi
Tel.: +86 10 64328831

Pekin Fine Arts
Accumulation: Aniwar, Bai Yiluo, Choi Jeong-Hwa, He Yunchang, Huang Zhiyang, Billy Lee, Li Yao, Marvin Mintofang, Peter Sandbichler, Suling Wang, Wu Shanzhuan, Yeh Yi-li
Opening Reception: 2 - 6 pm, Dec 13, 2008
Exhibition Dates: 13 Dec 2008 – 16 Feb 2009
Tel: (8610) 5127 3220
No. 241 Cao Chang Di Village

PKM
#46-C Cao Chang Di
Tel: +86-10-8456-7429
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11am – 5pm

Platform China
Title： Enjoy It?
Exhibition Date： 2008.12.06 - 2009.01.18
Exhibition Venue：Platform China Contemporary Art Institute Main Space B
Exhibition Artist：Zhou Yilun

Three Shadows Photography Art Centre
Ai Weiwei: New York Photographs 1983-1993

Location: No. 155A Caochangdi, Beijing, China
Exhibition Dates: January 2nd to April 18th, 2009

Universal Studios aka Boers-Li
Address: No.A-8 Caochangdi
Tel: +86-10-6432-2620
Opening Hours : Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00-18:00

UrsMeile
BIG SHOW - XIE NANXING Wang Xingwei - one-man show
November 8, 2008 - January 11


798 Dashanzi




Chinese Contemporary
LOOK AT THIS!
featuring works from the artists Huang Rui, Lu Hao, Sheng Qi, Wu Junyong, Xue Song, & Zhang Dali. December 20, 2008 to February 13, 2009. Open everyday 11am - 7pm Tel: +86 (0)10 5978 9670


Paris-Beijing Photo Gallery

Edward Burtynsky

October 26th 2008 to January 10th 2009

Tel: +86 (010) 5978 9262


UCCA
Christian Dior & Chinese Artists
November 16, 2008-January 15, 2009
upcoming Mona Hatoum: Measures of Entanglement
February 6-April, 2009