Those who live between reality and ideal life
- By Zhuang Chen
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E-mail China.org.cn, July 1, 2014
"This path has come alive, this tree has come to life, and so have these cottages." -- Chang Tianhao
A dot in the middle of farmland, Chang Tianhao's studio has been replaced by enormous art museums. Once the peaceful backdrop that inspired his work, Songzhuang – Asia's largest artist village – now buzzes with the sound of concrete mixers and cranes.
Songzhuang is home to more than 10,000 artists. It teeters on the brink between commercialization and creative freedom.
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Songzhuang, Asia's largest artist village. [Photo by Zhuang Chen] |
Making the move
Over the years, artists have moved to the village to get away from the hubbub of city life. Fang Lijun, Li Xianting and Yue Mingjun were among the first batch of artists to make the move. The trio, along with about 20 other artists, relocated from Yuanming Yuan to Songzhuang in 1994.
"It is too crowded and noisy in the city of Beijing," said Li, who is known as the "golden father of Chinese contemporary art."
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