CIGE 2010

Supported by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, the Seventh Edition of the China International Gallery Exposition (CIGE 2010) will take place at the Exhibition Hall of the China World Trade Centre in Beijing from April 22 to 25, 2010 (Preview April 21).

In recent years, most of the nations in Asia have reached unprecedented wealth and stature as they have forged more mature politically, economically, and culturally.

China has become a major economy in the world, achieving remarkable progresses, increasing its economic and cultural exchanges with all the countries of the world, and maintaining a steady development.

Host city for the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing is the cultural and economic centre of China. Especially in recent years, the art market in the Chinese capital has expanded rapidly with growing interest from abroad and more importantly, with strong growth in the domestic market.

New art centers and communities have been growing everywhere in the city, bringing vitality and creativity to areas that used to be peripheral and now house a unique concentration of representative galleries from China as well as USA, UK, Germany, Singapore, Japan, Italy, Korea, Indonesia, Spain, France, The Netherlands …

In 2004, the China International Gallery Exposition was launched in Beijing, on the purpose of "Internationalism, Professionalism and Futurism", exhibiting galleries. After 6 years, CIGE is considered the most established international art fair in Asia.

Presenting artworks from the 5 continents and over 20 countries and areas, including Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, India, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Israel, Russia, Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Syria, Kenya, Mexico, Cuba … CIGE 2009 has been the most internationally diverse modern and contemporary art fair to date in Asia.

Facing the challenges and changes of the economical and political balance of our multi-polar and interdependent world, CIGE would like to position itself as a dynamic and unique platform, open to modern and contemporary artistic creations and visions from all over the world.

CIGE 2010 Gallery Exhibition 13,000 square meter space on the first and second floor of the China World Trade Center Exhibition Hall will host around 80 selected outstanding galleries from all over the world, presenting a panorama of modern and contemporary art. CIGE 2010 welcomes and encourages any form of art expression, including photography, video, painting, sculptures, mixed media, installations, prints, digital and net art, textile, design…

Understanding the relevance of technology and globalization on the economic infrastructure of the art world, CIGE 2010 SPECIAL PROJECTS invite galleries, artists, not-for-profit art organizations, museums, institutions, private collections, and visitors to reflect on our contemporary visual culture.

1) CIGE 2010 Special Project SOLO SHOWS MAPPING ASIA
The 2nd floor of the Exhibition Hall of the China World Trade Center will host over 30 solo shows of young and emerging artists in Asia. The projects are realized in collaboration with art galleries.
2) CIGE 2010 Special Project INTERNATIONAL SHOWS CITYSCAPES
On the second floor of the China World Trade Center, INTERNATIONAL SHOWS CITYSCAPES features artworks from 6 metropolis in the world looking at the presence, concentration, quality and diversity of their art galleries and art districts. The projects are realized in collaboration with art galleries and institutions.

3) CIGE 2010 Special Project ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE
ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE presents works realized partially or totally in Beijing by international artists. The projects are realized in collaboration with art galleries.

4) CIGE 2010 Special Project SUBLIMINALS
As a gathering place at the entrance of the China World Trade Center and as an active promoter of contemporary cultural models, events and developments in art, SUBLIMINALS presents 9 not-for-sale projects realized by not-for-profit art organizations and cultural centers: entities that usually do not directly participate in art fairs, but definitely have a determinant relevance in the economy of the whole contemporary art system.

5) CIGE 2010 Special Project VIDEO LOOPS
VIDEO LOOPS presents video, film and documentary screening programs in collaboration with art initiatives and organizations from Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

6) CIGE 2010 Special Project DESIGN
DESIGN presents the works of internationally renowned designers. The projects are realized in collaboration with major design institutions and galleries.

7) CIGE 2010 Special Project INTERACTIONS
CIGE 2010 establishes and develops collaborations, quality partnerships and strategic alliances with art fairs, art institutions and cultural centers in Asia and around the world. The interactions between the art fair and world wide institutions aim to stimulate dialogue and discussion, enhancing mutual relations and contacts, and contributing to enrich cross cultural knowledge with and within China.

CIGE 2010 Media and VIPs
CIGE 2009 cooperated with over 150 influential media at home and abroad, including Bloomberg TV, CNN, CNBC, CCTV, Reuters, Die Welt, EFE, El Pais. We are devoted to presenting the mature mode and internationalization of the art fair and building a broad promotion stage for exhibitors and artists. CIGE 2010 will assist media partners to conduct interviews and special features focusing on exhibitors and artists, alongside with internet resources to further promote artworks and galleries to guarantee our exhibitors benefit from high quality media exposure. CIGE 2010 will invite over 5,000 collectors, museum directors, art critics, artists, curators, government officials, and social celebrities all over the world, to broaden the opportunity of networking via well organized special events for VIP and guests.

CIGE 2010 Organizing Committee