Tian Jianxin's 'A User Guide' at Capsule, Beijing
Capsule Gallery is kicking off 'A User Guide,' a solo exhibition by Tian Jianxin, who was born in 1994 in Baoding, China, during Gallery Weekend Beijing. This event runs from May 21 to May 31, 2026, located at Room 201, Building A07 in the 798 Art District of Beijing. Tian creatively transforms discarded household and industrial objects—like rice cooker pots, Soviet gas barrels, car hoods, herbal medicine scoops, mugs, dustpans, and safety helmets—using methods such as hammering, collaging, and localized coloring, without cutting them. Standout works include 'Hercules' (2024), featuring a helmet with rivets shaped like a face, and 'Narcissus' (2026), which draws inspiration from Greek mythology. The exhibit critiques consumerism, with the title highlighting his method of giving new life to waste.
Key facts
- Capsule Gallery debuts at Gallery Weekend Beijing with Tian Jianxin's solo exhibition 'A User Guide'.
- Exhibition runs May 21–31, 2026 at Room 201, Building A07, 798 Art District, Beijing.
- Tian Jianxin salvages discarded objects like rice cooker inner pots, Soviet gasoline barrels, car hoods, and safety helmets.
- He uses hammering, collaging, and localized coloration without cutting objects.
- Works include 'Hercules' (2024), 'Second Skin' (2025), 'Narcissus' (2026), 'Lotus Position' (2026), 'Hand' (2025), and 'Half the Sky' (2026).
- Influences include Rodin, Tang dynasty Buddhist statuary, and folk effigies.
- The exhibition is described as a post-industrial ruin and a manual for alternative seeing.
- Tian Jianxin was born in 1994 in Baoding, China.
Entities
Artists
- Tian Jianxin
- Auguste Rodin
- Michelangelo
Institutions
- Capsule Gallery
- Gallery Weekend Beijing
Locations
- Beijing
- China
- Baoding
- 798 Art District
- Chaoyang District