In April, I visited the 2023 Beijing Art Expo, titled REUNION. The first booth was the International Children’s Alliance Fund for Intangible Cultural Heritage, jointly sponsored and established by 21 families. Artworks from youths as young as 6 showed intelligent reinterpretations of intangible cultural heritages.
International Children’s Alliance Fund for Intangible Cultural Heritage booth at Beijing Art Expo REUNION. Photo: SLCT
Hall 11, National Agricultural Exhibition Centre, Beijing was fairly empty when I arrived just after 1 pm, but when I was leaving 3 hours later, I waded through masses of people admiring the artworks, taking photos and engaging the artists and booth sitters.
Booth interior at Beijing Art Expo REUNION. Photo: SLCT
The Expo hosted over 150 exhibitor institutions and galleries, including 2 auction houses with stiff security. Some booths were manned by the artists, and others by gallery representatives. Displays covered digital work, installations, mixed media, realistic and abstract, ink paintings, drawings and symbols. I noted several contemporary workings of Chinese folk art culture providing new perspectives. During my 3 hours at the Expo, I considered that our artists could also provide contemporary perspectives to Grenada’s intangible heritage. I pondered the possibility of a Grenada booth at next year’s Beijing Art Expo.
A Corn Story by Wan Chaoqian. Oil on canvas 2018 at Beijing Art Expo REUNION. Photo: SLCT
Several works reminded me of Grenadian artists whose works I am familiar with: Asher Mains; Chris Mast; Doliver Morain; Freddy Paul; Gilbert Nero; John Henry; Kristianne Buxo; Lyndon Bedeau; Malaika Brooks-Smith-Lowe; Maureen St Clair; Michael Paryag; Oliver Benoit; Prensnelo; Roland Benjamin; Stacey Byer; Susan Mains; Tricia Bethel; Trish Bethany and Victoria Slinger. Apologies to the many other Grenada artists that I have yet to meet.
Series by Malaysian artist BLUVSO at Beijing Art Expo REUNION. Photo: SLCT
As of this writing, my thoughts turned to paintings by African artists and students that have been shot into space. As part of the African Space Art Project, Cameroonian artist Jean David Nkot, and Congolese artists Michel Ekéba and Géraldine Tobé created a collective work, “Memory of Today, Memory of the Future,” a reproduction of launched into orbit in December 2022 on the Ariane 5 rocket. On 31 May 2023, China’s Shenzhou-16 crew will take paintings received from African children to exhibit in the China Space Station.
World No 1 by Deng Yufeng. Mirror, highway warning reflective film 2016, at Beijing Art Expo REUNION. Photo: SLCT
My thoughts also turned to Grenada’s multi-year presence at the Venice Bienale, the biggest global art event. Grenada’s artists can hold their own in global markets; however, the high costs to exhibit at events that attract collectors is a barrier. Let’s hope the Office of Creative Affairs can help resolve this challenge to shape the future of Grenada’s creative economy.