三影堂 Three Shadows

Went today to visit the future site of Three Shadows, a photography art center being built in East End Art district of Beijing. It is solely funded by photography artist Rong Rong and run by Rong Rong, curator Zhang Li, David Mao and others. It is designed by Ai Weiwei of course (what art space being built now isn't being designed by him?) and I went by today to see the site...and was pretty blown away. It is not only HUGE but also a very ambitious undertaking with library, cafe, darkroom facilities, residency program, film and video production facilities, etc. It opens in late June which is just around the corner, when I asked Rong Rong the opening day he responded instantly "50 more days". hmm, do I sense some stress there?






left to right Zhang Li, Rong Rong and Mao Weidong