The structure of China’s economy today looks nothing like it did 30 or 40 years ago when it was dominated by large scale, Soviet-style heavy industry. Even Macau once had a thriving manufacturing industry, that is now struggling to survive. And as massive economic shifts have taken place, they have left in their wake vast areas of land and old buildings that until recently seemed useless, the purpose for their original existence having long since disappeared.
Remarkably though, these areas have begun to receive a new lease of life, becoming home to local artists – their massive industrial spaces the perfect venue for inspiring creative freedom and bold expressions.
Within these areas artists can create and exhibit their works in spaces that are easily accessible to the public, often attracting shops, cafes, bars and restaurants along the way. Now it is even becoming trendy for sleek modern cities to have their own artistic zones, located in the rustic remains of disused factories and warehouses, a striking juxtaposition of old and new, industrial functionality and artistic innovation.
Macau OX WAREHOUSE
Ox Warehouse and FRANK LEI | 圖 Photos Carmo Correia
Once a quiet fishing village, Macau is now a vibrant city where casinos and skyscrapers are omnipresent, but is there enough space for art to breathe? Within walking distance of the historical Lin Fong Temple, the Ox Warehouse doesn’t draw much attention to itself. After a decade of endeavor, this former cattle depot is one of the avant-garde spaces that is today nurturing local artistic talent in Macau.
Together with a team of locals who share a passion for contemporary art, Frank Lei has run the house since 2003. “When we moved in, the place was obsolete and we were ambitious to revive it,” he recalls.
Now this former slaughterhouse fosters a friendly and creative atmosphere for art events, hosting contemporary installations, exhibitions, workshops and performances by local and visiting artists. Much of the work is engagingly experiential in nature.
Adjacent to residential buildings, the Ox Warehouse is just a few blocks away from the hustle and bustle of the Red Market.
Determined to bring art to the local community, Lei and his team strive to explore the possibility of involving greater participation by the wider public, with performances and workshops in the street. They also display works made from diverse materials, bringing together elemnts of the city, roads and neighbourhoods.
As a lecturer in the School of Art at the Macau Polytechnic Institute, Frank observes that few local youths continue to explore their experimental artin the long term. “They might occasionally have one or two great exhibitions, but then disappear from the local art scene,” he says.
Perhaps their dreams are aborted due to practical reasons. Most often they need to spend money to move into a factory for their creative activies, and any kind of fame or recognition can of course take years to achieve, he notes.
One of the most happening non-official arts venues in Macau, the art space shares the building with a depot for government vehicles. Frank has been asking the government to give them the rest of the space but has received no confirmation yet.
“Our space for art creation is not enough, but it can serve as a platform to display artwork and connect people,” he says.
Beijing 798 ART ZONE
798 Art Zone or Dashanzi Art District (DAD) is a part of Dashanzi in the Chaoyang District of Beijing. It is home to a thriving artistic community, based in 50-year old decommissioned military factory buildings, once the North China Wireless Joint Equipment Factory. The area where the early art organisations and artists moved in to initially, was located in the original area of the 798 plant, hence its name.
The German-designed architectural plans follow the unique Bauhaus approach, offering large indoor spaces designed to let the maximum amount of natural light into the workplace. The windows were all aligned to face North because the light from that direction would cast fewer shadows, perfect for the artists who now work there.
In the early 1980’s, as Deng Xiao Ping began reforming the structure of the Chinese economy, the factories closed down and the area became deserted. Then in around 2002, without any real overall plan in mind, a number of artists began setting up their studios there.
Today the art zone covers an area of 600,000 square kilometres, and has become the exhibition center of Chinese culture and art, particularly focusing on cutting edge contemporary art. It includes galleries, art studios, fashion stores, coffeehouses, restaurants and bars.
It frequently hosts important international art exhibitions and art activities as well as fashion shows, and has held the 798 Art Festival (from the end of April to the end of May) every year since 2006. Another festival is the 798 Creative Art Festival (from the end of September to the end of October).
Shanghai M50
Tucked away in an old industrial area along the Suzhou Creek, the address of 50 Moganshan Road was once the Chunming Slub Mill and state-owned textile factory Shangtex. It is located in the industrial and residential Putuo District, close to the downtown Jing’an District.
The art quarter has become a popular cultural attraction for local and international visitors alike, and was named among the top ten things to do in Shanghai by Time magazine.
In 2000, local artist Xue Song was attracted by the cheap rent of the disused industrial space and moved there. Other artists soon followed.
Today the quarter’s former factories and warehouses have been converted into art galleries, artists’ studios, design agencies and other visual art and cultural businesses. M50 hosts over 120 galleries and art studios, with some of Shanghai’s best known artists working there, including Zhou Tiehai, Ding Yi, and Xu Zhen. Major galleries include ShanghART, EastLink Gallery, Island6 and Biz Art.
Guangzhou REDTORY
Guangzhou Redtory Art & Design Factory is built upon the original Yingjinqian Canned Food Factory (Guangdong Canned Food Factory), which dates back to 1958, and was the largest canned food factory in Asia at the time.
Today, the original Soviet-style buildings have become the central art district of Guangzhou, with galleries, designer and artist’s studios, art spaces, media, academic/art organisations, fashion stores, clubs, cafes and restaurants making it a prosperous hub of creativity.
Two other art zones are also worth visiting in the southern capital. Creative Park was originally the site of southern China’s largest hydrogen peroxide manufacturing plant. It is a huge space with one long avenue of galleries featuring a wide variety of art.
A former textile machinery plant, T.I.T Creative Industry Zone is now a primarily a space for designing highly creative and contemporary fashion.
OTHER GREAT ZONES TO CHECK OUT IN THE REGION
South Korea – Heyri Art Village is home to 370 members including writers, artists, cineastes, architects, and musicians who have built their artistic spaces, houses, work rooms, museums, galleries in the picturesque space.
Singapore – Opened just last year, the Gillman Barracks Art District comprises several, mainly high-end, galleries. It is housed in refurbished buildings that were formerly military barracks and date from the 1930s. The entire development, will ultimately provide about 4,200 sqm for art galleries, along with another 4,800 sqm of space dedicated to arts-related activities.
Hong Kong – Fotan art district is a rather bleak looking warehouse area close to the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and now home to more than 70 artists in studios in seven or so mid-rise blocks.
Shenzhen – 22nd Art Zone is housed in a closed down factory area from the 1980s and occupies an expanse of 120,000 square metres. It is a gathering point for original works of art, investment, collection and trade.
Taiwan – The Pier 2 Art Centre in Kaohsiung is a hub of outdoor and indoor art warehouse and museums set around an old disused wharf. The main building was once a used to store sugar, but now houses different contemporary art throughout the year. The surrounding grounds are full of modern art sculptures, statues and decorated buildings.
