Art beat...finger on the pulse

China Daily USA | Updated: 2014-06-16 07:08

Beijing

In conversation

The paintings in Normal & Abnormal Scenery depict strange and common scenes behind which seven Chinese artists conduct "private and quiet" conversations with society. The exhibition represents a phenomenon in which both established and rising artists committed to land-scape paintings are likely to help contemporary Chinese art gain greater independence from imitating foreign art. Participating artists include Liu Weijian, Yi Zhaoyang and Wu Haizhou.

10 am-5 pm, daily except for Mondays, until June 24. Lelege Art Space, Room B-03 of Grand floor store of Yuanyang New Express Building, Dong Sanhuan Bei Lu (Road), Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-8446-6434.

Awakening lishu

Bao Xianlun's first solo exhibition in Beijing, Meditation on the Past, reflects upon his decades-long dedication to enriching lishu, or the clerkly script, the name of the script used by government bureaucrats. At the show, his 100-odd calligraphic scrolls and calligraphy on pottery pieces, offer a glimpse of the diverse landscape of lishu and the spirit of the ancient literati. He also presents his interpretation of tradition with brush strokes of a modern touch. Born in Shanghai, Bao, 59, once taught at colleges and served as an official at cultural agencies in China. He now chairs Zhejiang province's calligraphers' association.

9 am-5 pm, until June 24. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie (Street), Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6400-1476.

Zheng's solo show

Zheng Yefu (1909-73), who was active in the 1930s and '40s, was famous for xylography through which he depicted the hardships of poor people. A special exhibition at the museum of Central Academy of Fine Arts displays his woodcuts and engravings, partly donated by his family. The exhibits reveal the artist's passion for grassroots workers and his pursuit of liberty and social equity.

9:30 am-5:30 pm, daily except for Monday, until June 22. CAFA Art Museum, 8 Huajiadi Nan Jie (Street), Wangjing, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-6477-1575.

Magical treat

Ju Percussion Group, the first percussion ensemble established in Taiwan in 1986 by renowned percussionist Ju Tzongching, will launch a monthlong tour on the Chinese mainland with concerts for children called Do-Re-Mi Pods' Rainbow Dream. The music and story are designed to take audiences to amagical world.

7:30 pm, July 27. Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhua Jie (Street), Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6605-7006.

Shanghai

Dog's life onstage

Urban white-collar workers live a dog's life and they love it depicted onstage. Dog's Face is a physical theater production by Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center. The show created 10 years ago has become part of the repertoire at the center. A new round of performances is now on. Actors perform a hunting allegory in the concrete jungle: The hunter exploits the dog; the dog chases the rabbit. Four actors present a bitter satire without speaking a single line.

7:30 pm, until June 22. Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, 288 Anfu Lu (Road), Xuhui district, Shanghai. 021-6473-0123.

Origin of the world

Meridiano Theater Company from Denmark presents for China's children a show about the origin of the universe. Created by Giacomo Ravicchio, with an original music score by Jerome Baur, Genesis takes young audiences on a magical journey through the mystery of life. The production combines puppet performance with 3-D multimedia effects to bring a new theater experience.

10 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, June 21-22. Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center-Drama Salon, 3F, 288 Anfu Lu (Road), Xuhui district, Shanghai. 021-6473-0123.

Ceramic vision

Leng Jun is famous for his photo-realistic paintings. Besides his oil paintings that reflect vivid textures and details of life, the artist has been experimenting with prints, Chinese paintings and ceramic paintings. He is constantly shifting between these different mediums to express himself better. The exhibition features his ceramic paintings from the past eight years.

9:30 am-5 pm, daily except for Monday until June 18. Long Museum Pudong, 210 Lane 2255, Luoshan Lu (Road), Pudong New Area, Shanghai. 021-6877-8787.

Yang's 39 steps

Theater director Yang Shipeng presents a modern adaptation of Alfred Hitch-cock's classic thriller 39 Steps. Yang translated the melodrama that was once written for stage by British playwright Patrick Barlow. In his play, Yang's actors take on 48 roles - from being hero to villain - even becoming inanimate objects. The original spy story's serious appeal is replaced by humor in Yang's version.

7:30 pm, June 20-22. People Grand Theater Shanghai, 663 Jiujiang Lu (Road), Huangpu district, Shanghai. 021-6217-2426.

Fong's debut

Hong Kong-based pop singer Khalil Fong will debut on the Chinese mainland in Shanghai. The 31-year-old singer and songwriter released his first albumin 2005 and has since released nine. Fong sings mainly in Mandarin. The tour will feature his new album Weixian Shijie (Dangerous World).

8 pm, June 21.Mercedes-Benz Arena, 1200 Expo Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. 021-5150-9199.

Sydney symphony

Sydney Symphony Orchestra will present a concert led by chief conductor David Robertson. The featured soloist will be young Chinese pianist Zhang Haochen. The symphony was founded in 1932 and is among the best symphonies in the southern hemisphere. The program consists of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 5(Emperor) and Richard Strauss' A Hero's Life.

7:30 pm, June 24. Shanghai Oriental Art Center, 425 Dingxiang Lu (Road), Pudong New Area, Shanghai. 021-6854-1234.

Guangzhou

New settings

The Guangzhou Opera House is set to present an opera with one of its most splendid stage settings ever, between June 27 and 29. The sets will include a bustling market, a grand carnival and a real horse. The London-based Royal Opera House in Covent Garden's production of Carmen, directed by Francesca Zambello, will make a revival with an investment of 13.5 million yuan ($2.2 million).

8 pm, June 27-28; 7 pm, June 29. Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu (Road), Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou. 020-3839-2888.

Akon will rock you

American singer Akon will rock the city on June 27 with his hip-hop swagger. He is ready to turn Guangzhou Gymnasium into a grand disco with upbeat hits, such as Mr Lonely and Oh, Africa, the theme song of the 2010 World Cup and dazzle people with special effects. Besides dry ice, fireworks and laser shows, the audience is likely to be wowed by dancers who will be dressed in outfits made of LED lights and walk on stilts that are 2.5 meters high.

8 pm, June 27. Guangzhou Gymnasium, 783 Baiyun Nan Dadao (Avenue), Guangzhou. 4006-228-228.

China since 1844

French artist Louis Daguerre invented the daguerreotype process of photography in 1839 and came to be known as a father of photography. Several years later, French visitors came to China and recorded what they saw with their cameras. An exhibition of about 213 such photos taken from 1844, and showcasing changes in China, are on display in the Guangdong Museum of Art. It is also part of celebrations to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and France.

9 am-5 pm, daily except for Mondays, until July 6.Hall 10-12, Guangdong Museum of Art, 38 Yanyu Lu (Road), Ersha Island, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou. 020-8735-1468.