Armory Show 2014 Focuses on Chinese Contemporary Art Scene

The 2014 Armory Show (March 6-9) featured a special focus on China, curated by Philip Tinari, director of the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing. The section included seventeen galleries, with a central installation by the collective Polit-Sheer-Form-Office titled 'Fitness for All,' referencing a Mao-era slogan. Notable presentations included Zhao Yao's sculpture 'The Myriad Things All Have Form' at Beijing Commune, Li Shurui's kinetic paintings at Aike Dellarco, and Zhao Zhao's 'Fragments' at Chambers Fine Art. The Double Fly Art Center collective, composed of nine former students of Zhang Peili, created a carnival-like lottery booth at Space Station gallery. Historical artist Huang Rui, co-founder of the Stars group, showed at 10 Chancery Lane Gallery. Xu Zhen, who created the fair's promotional imagery, presented works under his MadeIn Company brand, including 'Light Source – L'Odalisque brune' from his series of master copies obscured by white halos. The focus was supported by collector Adrian Cheng's K11 Art Foundation, which planned a cross-exhibition with Palais de Tokyo during FIAC. A symposium of eight roundtables accompanied the fair, addressing issues such as the museum boom in China, exemplified by the Sifang Art Museum designed by Steven Holl. Shen Qibin, director of Tianrenheyi gallery, advocated for an 'art ecosystem' through his New Art Group, encompassing auction, education, and promotion sectors.