Museum opening launches a 'new era'

The Yuan Art Museum, located in the Junhao Central Park Plaza of Beijing's Chaoyang district, officially opened on Sunday, with its inaugural exhibition, Launching a New Era: Body and Language as Manifesto.

This exhibition encompasses more than 40 pieces of art by 30 artists from home and abroad, across various mediums, including painting, installation, video, and performance art, with many works making their debuts in China for the first time.

British artist Antony Gormley's sculptures, often composed of abstract rectangles and architectural elements, are showcased in the exhibition, with Hidden II exemplifying his exploration of the relationship between the human body and space.

The opening featured a special presentation of Xu Zhen's performance art piece In Just a Blink of an Eye. Performers maintained a pose as if they were falling, creating a moment where time seemed to be paused, thus prompting viewers to contemplate the authenticity of existence and experience.

Zhang Weixiang, the chairman of Zhejiang Jianlong Holding Group and founder of the Yuan Art Museum, said at the opening ceremony: "I have always wanted to create a museum within the city area so that people can enjoy art in their leisure time after work, helping them to relax and foster a better mindset, which in turn could benefit their careers.

"The Yuan Art Museum is my first foray into the realm of museums. We have carved out a unique artistic space within a concrete landscape, aiming to lead urban dwellers back to the essence of their spirits, providing a space for aesthetic appreciation, contemplation, and communication."