Rather see the above links in your inbox or feed reader?
Subscribe to our Links for hand-picked items from around the web
Beijing Graffiti · by Sach O
Even China loves Big Poppa
Quick heads up, our new Graffiti gallery featuring work from Beijing’s 798 Artzone is now up and running. These shots were all taken on my recent trip to Beijing and since Mainland China isn’t exactly known for it’s Graf scene, I’m really excited to give the writers out there some shine. Check out the details.
With the Olympics and China’s propaganda machine in full force, getting an alternative view of China these days is about as easy as ordering dumplings in Beijing without an English menu. From spectacular (CGI) fireworks to amazing (lip-synched) singing at the opening ceremonies, Beijing is going all out to ensure that the public, both foreign and National, see exactly what it wants it to see. But despite all of the government’s efforts to paint the country as a unified, prosperous nation ready to match the West, the reality on the ground is much more complex. With freedom of expression is limited, creativity erupts in odd places such as the Government tolerated 798: an old Maoist-era factory district converted into a series of art galleries on the outskirts of Beijing. While the galleries feature fantastic material and are easily worth a visit, equally impressive is the graffiti and street art decorating the outside of the dilapidated hangers. In country with little tolerance for public expression, 798’s walls are an oasis of color and free-thought, putting forth a variety of ideas quasi-invisible to the mainstream public. From national icons such as Bruce Lee and Yao Ming to fiery caricatures of Red Army soldiers and headless Mao’s to a puzzling tribute to Biggie Smalls; the streets of 798 express nuance, style and an surprising eclecticism and offer (in my view) a much truer account of China than any overblown attempt to impress the world. Showing the good, the bad and the ugly, 798 is China uncensored.
Comments for "Beijing Graffiti"
When we visited Beijing last year, we called Factory 798 the only fresh breath of uncensored air in Beijing. It was the first place where we really felt personal expression and a good, creative vibe. Much more interesting than the renovated historical tourist sights in the city. Here’s what we wrote about it:
http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/08/factory-798-beijing/
— Audrey Aug 13, 08:10 PM
Thanks Aubrey… And cool blog. Good luck on your journey.
— Rafi Aug 13, 10:10 PM
Word up. Good to see my (2nd) city on the map. I have a bunch of pictures somewhere on my computer back in the States of stuff I took in 798 last summer (the name is a pun actually… Chinese for “798” sounds like the name of a bar). The graf + hip-hop (http://www.myspace.com/miccrew) scene is real lively up in Beijing, don’t get it twisted…
— Grand Master Aug 14, 11:01 AM
Sach,are you still in Beijing right now? If so, I`d like to take you for a ride into Beijing`s Hip-Hop scene. I`m a Hip-Hop journalist, so I figure I can be helpful if you need a guide here yo.
— EB Aug 14, 05:25 PM
Sorry EB, I was out there last month and had to get the hell out of dodge before the Olympics due to Visa issues.
GM: Didn’t mean to insinuate that there’s no scene in Beijing, my time in China was colored by the fact that I spent most of my time out west (which was relatively Graf free, at least in the city centers). Good to know that things are popping out there.
— Sach Aug 14, 06:09 PM
it’s all good fam. I know you know what’s up; just letting the haters out there (this is the internets, circa 2008: they out there) know we have a presence. Good looking out.
— Grand Master Aug 19, 09:35 AM
HATE IS THE NEW LOVE...
— BC...all day Aug 19, 10:40 PM
mammamia; cheap acomplia; venta de acomplia; buy cheap acomplia; acomplia; acomplia; acomplia preis; acomplia purchase; acomplia tabletten, ; acomplia; acomplia canada; acomplia; online acomplia; acomplia buy; acheter acomplia; acomplia; venta de acomplia; acomplia; acomplia purchase; acomplia no prescription; precio acomplia; acomplia; compra acomplia; uk acomplia; compra acomplia; acomplia; buy acomplia; acomplia; acomplia purchase; acomplia rezept; acomplia sale; acomplia; order acomplia online; acomplia tablets; acomplia; acomplia sale; acomplia; purchase acomplia online; acomplia; buy acomplia online; acomplia rezept; acomplia suppliers; acomplia;
— jtsfds234 Nov 26, 12:05 AM
mammamia; acomplia purchase; acomplia; buy cheap acomplia; acomplia; acomplia; acomplia; purchase acomplia; order acomplia online; acomplia; acomplia sale; acomplia kaufen; acomplia tablets; reductil; order acomplia; no rx acomplia; acomplia; acomplia bestellen; buy acomplia; buy acomplia; acomplia; acomplia; order acomplia online; precio acomplia; acomplia; acomplia uk sales; acomplia; no rx acomplia; acomplia uk sales; purchase acomplia online; acheter du acomplia; acomplia; acomplia no prescription; acheter du rimonabant; no rx acomplia; medikament acomplia; acomplia kaufen; medikament acomplia; order acomplia online; acheter rimonabant; acomplia sverige; accomplia; acomplia buy; buy acomplia online; acomplia españa; acomplia; canada acomplia; achat rimonabant; order acomplia online; acomplia; canada acomplia; acomplia;
— jtsfds348 Nov 26, 02:23 PM
mammamia; lipitor hinta, ; eulexin hinta, ; prijs prozac; købe plan b; vpxl; anafranil apteka; ostaa zestoretic; kamagra; prijs lamisil; ostaa breast enhancement gel; ethionamide; yerba diet hinta, ; fim adalat, ; diflucan bestellen; neurontin tabletki; maxaman hinta, ; købe avapro; relafen; duetact; fim amoxil, ; polska hair loss cream, ; risperdal hinta, ; bust enhancer; bupropion bestellen; vitamin c; comprar zyban; proscar tabletki; comprar shoot; comprar tramadol; tramadol apteka; actos bestellen; trandate hinta, ; rimonabant bestellen; prijs abilify; ismo; fim trileptal, ; herbal xanax; betapace apteka; købe risperdal; clomid; xenical; monoket tabletki; diflucan; koop mobic, ; ponstel hinta, ; levitra; weight loss hinta, ; energy patch hinta, ; comprar vein support;
— jtsfds155 Nov 27, 05:32 AM
mammamia; gaba buy online; generic echinacea usa, ; cheap celebrex; buy zetia online; motrin; purchase norvasc online; seroquel; lisinopril buy; uk glucophage; aspirin; zithromax; depakote cheap; orlistat; zocor online; stop smoking generic; breast augmentation; buy yasmin; online carisoprodol; order citalopram; buy xenical uk; buy clonidine; zyban; vytorin; saw palmetto; tetracycline; order generic methotrexate; ultracet; hydrochlorothiazide; order trazodone usa; cheap bactrim; order buspar; paxil canada; online cephalexin; bupropion; buy generic cla online; stress relief buy; purim; cheap zovirax; ginseng; order cheap skelaxin; effexor; green tea;
— jtsfds328 Nov 28, 09:06 AM
mammamia; acomplia prices; acomplia canada; buy acomplia; rezeptfrei acomplia; acomplia buy; acomplia; order acomplia online; acheter du acomplia; acomplia no prescription; acomplia sale; purchase acomplia online; acomplia; buy acomplia; canada acomplia; acomplia; acomplia uk sales; acomplia rimonabant; le rimonabant; online acomplia; acomplia; buy cheap acomplia; acomplia buy; acheter du rimonabant; acomplia; buy acomplia online; acomplia; acomplia; order acomplia online; acomplia tablets; acomplia canada; purchase acomplia; canada acomplia; acomplia; acomplia prices; uk acomplia; online acomplia; acomplia no prescription; purchase acomplia; acomplia buy; acomplia no prescription; reductil; online acomplia;
— jtsfds16 Nov 28, 05:19 PM