Thomas Eller on Launching Beijing's First Gallery Weekend

Beijing will host its first Gallery Weekend from March 17 to 19, 2017, featuring 14 galleries and four museums. German artist Thomas Eller, the director, explains the event's significance for China's art scene. The idea emerged in summer 2016 after discussions with galleries frustrated by Beijing's lack of major art events, unlike Shanghai which hosts two fairs and a biennial. Eller, who moved to Beijing in 2013 after curating a successful show with 23 artists including Ai Weiwei, believes the city has the same potential as Berlin's Gallery Weekend, which he helped develop from 2006 to 2008. The event will center on the 798 Art District, where 13 of the 18 participating institutions are located, with a Gala Dinner and common events held there. Eller deliberately limited participation to 18 for impact, mirroring Berlin's early model. Museums were included for their influence on young artists and connections to the West. A non-monetary prize will offer the winning gallery a free publication to foster collaboration between artist, curator, and gallery. Eller emphasizes that Beijing's artist studios are distant from social life, making art production authentic, and the Gallery Weekend provides a platform for emerging artists to reach collectors, curators, and international audiences.