Beijing exhibition tackles absurdity in modern life

The ongoing group exhibition "重" (Chong/Zhong) at Cai Jin Space in Beijing's 798 art district explores the absurdity of modern life, which stems from the often punitive nature of daily grind.

Curator Xing Yu plays on the dual meanings of the title, suggesting both "repetitive" and "heavy." Viewers can experience these meanings resonating throughout the works of four featured artists: Tan Yingjie, Jia Rang, Song Ziwei and Gao Suodu.

Upon entering the exhibition space, visitors may feel as though they are being enveloped by a surreal environment. The walls, ceiling and floor, along with an abandoned machine within the room, are adorned with images that defy immediate recognition.

As the curious audience navigates this peculiar space and examines the detailed images more closely, they might recognize familiar urban landscapes captured from the surrounding area, visible from the venue's windows.

This is the essence of Tan Yingjie's work, Bringing the Exterior Closer (2025). It presents a playful visual game that blurs the lines between inside and outside, reality and representation, offering viewers a fresh sensory encounter in this reconstructed environment and prompting them to rethink their relationship with their immediate surroundings.

Under a blue ceiling symbolizing the sky is Jia Rang's artwork, Sky (2025). The piece features a real estate billboard that reads, "To the right is Beijing. There is my sky." and a video installation showcasing a flying kite, which carries the word "sky" above the billboard.

Jia conceived this work based on his experiences living in Yanjiao, Hebei province—a satellite town to the east of Beijing. Yanjiao, known for its affordability, is home to roughly half a million commuters who travel to Beijing for work each day. The billboard is one of many that stand at provincial borders, enticing young people to buy homes in Yanjiao by highlighting its proximity to the capital.

Jia made a kite and flew it close to the billboards which freely crossed the Heibei-Beijing borders. The free, lithe kite reminds viewers of the harsh reality of those Yanjiao commuters who devote hours each day to riding the bus and train in pursuit of their career ambitions or simply to earn a living in Beijing.