Founded in 1958, the Beijing Heavy Electric Machinery Factory made outstanding contributions to China's power industry. Today, the factory has completed its production shutdown in the general manufacturing process and has transformed its old plant into a magnificent cultural and artistic landmark in the Shijingshan District. Recently, the Gravity Art Museum located in the Beizhong Science and Technology Cultural and Creative Industry Park in the district was officially opened, making it the first private art museum in Shijingshan.

Walking into the Beizhong Science and Technology Cultural and Creative Industry Park, a building with a stylish gray-white color scheme stands out. The lower part of its exterior facade preserves some original red brick walls, which are combined with brand-new walls on the upper part, organically blending the history and contemporary elements of the building. Inside the museum, six exhibition halls on three floors have been refurbished, covering an area of over 2400 square meters. The Gravity Art Museum integrates functions such as exhibition, collection, research, public education, and international exchanges to fill the gap in the art museum resources in the Shijingshan District.

"The renovation of the art museum began in 2021 and lasted for about two years," said Ouyang Xing, the director of the Gravity Art Museum. As the building itself is an industrial relic, the entire reconstruction process was carried out without destroying the original structure. Previously, the interior of the building was a single large factory, "with only four walls when you entered." Today, it has been transformed into a three-story modern art museum. Inside the exhibition halls, one can faintly see the old house beams from the past, which complement the new structures and artworks in the space, adding a nostalgic industrial atmosphere.

The opening exhibition "The Sea of Time" at the Gravity Art Museum showcased 50 works from 37 artists, including installations, videos, paintings, and other forms. "This new art museum embodies the ideals of China's new industrial era and the cultural spirit of the new era," said curator Wei Xiangqi. "Therefore, the exhibition theme 'The Sea of Time' pays tribute to this newly revitalized industrial building."

At the exhibition, viewers can see artist Sui Jianguo's massive sculpture "Yunzhong Garden: 34 Moments", which weighs 3 tons. He drew inspiration from Rodin's late small clay sculptures, imprinting his fingerprints and marks on the mud during the kneading process. He then worked with computer programmers and foundry craftsmen to enlarge and freely assemble and stack the clay sculptures into the final product.

Translator: TANG Yingqi

Reviewer:  BAO Minmin