Beijing Calling! Opening of „Metropolis Rises“ in Red Gate Gallery

Island6’ long lasting and much valued representation by China’s first ever gallery for contemporary art climaxed in last week’s Vernissage of “Metropolis Rises”. Beijing was calling, and so for several weeks we were pottering around to bring fast-modernizing China into being and to portray obsessions with the automated and urbanized. For our second solo show with the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing, our in-house multimedia collective exclusively created the perfect urban utopia in over a dozen of brand-new artworks, exploring the ramifications of a technologized urbanscape. Gallery director and good friend Brian Wallace curated this one-of-a-kind island6 show and, together with his diligent assistants and our very own gallery manager Jean Le Guyader, on June 15 they opened the doors for a future vision: “Metropolis Rises”.

Brian Wallace with "God Complex"

Hong Mei does "Grin and Bear It"

The outcome of the very constructive and fruitful production process was proudly presented to a curious and dauntless public on a hot Beijing Saturday afternoon, that eye witnessed this playground for a welter of digital prophecies.

Through grey cityscapes dotted with blinking diodesand finest acrylic painting complemented with gleaming sparks, island6 created a tableau of a world where tower cranes overrule the existence of unreal appearing human protagonists.

The historical Dongbianmen Watchtower, home of Red Gate Gallery, is hosting our pixelated masterpieces for one month. “Metropolis Rises” still runs until July 10.

Text: Melani Murkovic

Photos: Jean Le Guyader