Songzhuang

Songzhuang

In Beijing, there lies a beautiful plain surrounded by the Wenyu River, Chaobai River, and the Canal Diversion River—this is Songzhuang. It is located in the northern part of Tongzhou District, on the eastern section of the Hundred-Mile Avenue. Covering an area of 116 square kilometers, the town governs 47 administrative villages, enjoys convenient transportation, and serves as an important hub for Beijing’s cultural and creative industries as well as airport-adjacent economic development. After 15 years of cultivation and development, the artists in Songzhuang have expanded from the original painters working on canvas to include sculptors, conceptual artists, new media artists, photographers, independent filmmakers, musicians, poets, freelance writers, and more. The rich cultural heritage and simple local customs have nurtured China’s—and even the world’s—largest contemporary art base: the Songzhuang Artists' Community.

Between 1993 and 1994, art masters such as Huang Yongyu, renowned painters Fang Lijun, Yue Minjun, Liu Wei, and critic Li Xianting were among the first pioneers to arrive in Songzhuang. The local government and residents welcomed artists and cultural figures from all over the country. According to the latest statistics, the number of artists living and creating in Songzhuang has surged from just over 300 at the end of 2004 to around 3,000 today. These artists form a community centered around Xiaopu Village, and spread across Daxingzhuang, Xindian Village, —zhuang, Renzhuang, Baimiao Village, Beisi Village, Tuangli Village, Fuhao Village, and Songzhuang Village. Major modern art movements such as contemporary painting, public art, mixed-media art, pop art, and new media art are all concentrated here. Many works by these artists have been exhibited and awarded at internationally prestigious art exhibitions. A significant number of outstanding pieces are also collected by dozens of world-renowned museums and galleries.