Where are you going to spend your May Day holiday? Starting May 1, the Bai'etan Greater Bay Area Art Center in Guangzhou will open to the public free of charge. Housing the Guangdong Museum of Art, the Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, and the Guangdong Literary Museum, it promises a series of exhibitions featuring masterpieces and precious artifacts from eminent artists. Here is a guide to exploring this cultural hub.
Guangdong Museum of Art: Largest fine art exhibition ever
The museum specially curated the "Stride Toward the New Era: Opening Exhibitions of the New Guangdong Museum of Art", featuring eight exhibitions with over 900 works by more than 700 global artists. Here are some of the highlights.
(Photo provided to GDToday)
Timeless Verses: Renaissance and Baroque Masterpieces from Galleria Borghese
This exhibition focuses on paintings from Italy and the northern area created in the 16th and 17th centuries, which are part of the collection of Galleria Borghese. Over 50 exhibits interpret the relations of humanity, divinity, and community.
Photo: Courtesy of Galleria Borghese
Date: May 1 to September 7, 2024
Venue: Hall 1/2/3, Guangdong Museum of Art (BAIETAN)
Admission: This is a special exhibition and tickets are required. Obtain free tickets or purchase tickets on WeChat official accounts "广东美术馆 (pinyin: guang dong mei shu guan)" or "你好博物馆 (pinyin: ni hao bo wu guan)", or scan the QR code below for a free ticket.
Limited free tickets: 500 per day (May 1 to 5, 2024); 800 per day (every Tuesday, May 8 to July 10, 2024)
Futuristic Touch: An Immersive Digital Art Exhibition
Audiences will be invited to enter an immersive space shaped by digital art to experience a feast for the senses. From the poetic beauty of landscapes to urban culture and the modern interpretation of natural philosophy, each chapter is an exploration of the subtle relationship between man and nature, tradition and innovation.
(Photo provided to GDToday)
Date: May 1 to October 31, 2024
Venue: Hall 10, Guangdong Museum of Art (BAIETAN)
Future Garden: Public Art Exhibition
The theme "Future Garden" aims at enriching people's spiritual lives through aesthetic experiences. Nearly thirty renowned artists worldwide present diverse forms of artistic expression from various cultural and ideological perspectives.
(Photo provided to GDToday)
Date: May 1 to October 31, 2024
Venue: Public Area of the Guangdong Museum of Art (BAIETAN)
Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum: Treasure trove of Lingnan heritage
The museum showcases Guangdong's cherished intangible heritage items. On display are Cantonese embroidery, wood carvings, Shiwan pottery sculptures, straw paintings, and a traditional 22-meter-long dragon boat, among others.
(Photo provided to GDToday)
The second floor features two halls. One highlights the agricultural, and maritime civilizations of Guangdong through local folk beliefs, life rituals, seasonal food customs, and related local scenery and folk arts. The other exhibits Guangdong people's practices in intangible culinary heritage and wellness.
(Photo provided to GDToday)
The third floor emphasizes Guangdong's traditional crafts, while the fourth floor is dedicated to Lingnan folk arts, including folk literature, traditional music, opera, and drama. Notable highlights include Cantonese opera, martial arts, and lion dancing.
Additionally, a fashion show on May 3 at the Bai'etan Grand Stage will showcase garments adorned with Cantonese and Chaozhou embroidery, Yao embroidery, and gambiered Canton gauze, celebrating the aesthetic legacy of Lingnan's intangible heritage.
Related news: Treasure Box: Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum
Guangdong Literary Museum: Journey into Lingnan Literature
This museum hosts six permanent and one temporary exhibition halls, presenting over 1,300 invaluable items, including 34 interactive multimedia exhibits. Fiber optic displays, light shows, and panoramic videos offer a journey through 2,000 years of Lingnan literature.
(Photo: Nanfang Daily)
An exhibition hall dedicated to the iconic Chinese literary figure Lu Xun is a must-visit. It vividly recounts the life journey of Lu Xun and his wife Xu Guangping from their first meeting to their enduring partnership. This hall features personal items like the coffee table Lu Xun used in the 1930s in Shanghai, the wooden chest that witnessed their love, a 70-year-old sofa from Xu Guangping's family, and a Kiev camera used by their son Zhou Haiying.
(Photo: Nanfang Daily)
Reservation for Bai'etan Greater Bay Area Art Center
Visitors can scan the QR code below to make a reservation. For those preferring traditional methods, on-site reservations can be made at any venue service desk with valid identification.
Add.: No.19, Bai'etan South Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou (广州市荔湾区白鹅潭南路19号)
Opening hours: 9:00 - 17:00, closed on Mondays (except holidays).
Nearest Metro station: Metro Line 1, Fangcun Station (芳村站), Exit B1
Surrounding scenic spot: Shamian Island
Shamian Island features tranquil pedestrian avenues flanked by trees and historical buildings. The mansions on the island are some of the best-preserved Western European-style buildings in the country. More than 40 buildings have been counted as among（amongst is much old fashioned and too formal) the most exotic ones in Guangzhou, exhibiting traits of Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture.
(Photo: Nanfang Daily)
Add.: No. 53-54, Shamian North Street, Liwan District, Guangzhou (广州市荔湾区沙面北街53~54号)
Nearest Metro station: Metro Line 1 or 6, Huangsha Station (黄沙站), Exit E.
Reporter: Holly
Poster: Mia
Editor: Steven, Abby, James
