Beijing welcomes you to the future: Last night’s Opening Ceremony for Beijing Design Week at the China Millennium Monument. Photos & text by Glenn Belverio

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Dear Shaded Viewers,

The opening ceremony at the China Millennium Monument for BJDW was very “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” meets “Triumph of the Will.” Surreal, campy, cheesy, monumental, beyond extravagant….except when it came to the wine served which tasted either like dirt (red wine) or canned peaches syrup (sparkling).

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BJDW Creative Director Aric Chen and Caroline Roux from the Financial Times. The rays of light behind Aric remind me of the Mao posters from the Cultural Revolution where sunbeams are emanating from behind the Great Helmsman.

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James, me, Alice McInerney of Time Out Beijing & friend bathing in the blue glow of the Mothership

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British designer Paul Cocksedge’s piece: thirty sheets of rolled steel engraved with classical Chinese and English poetry. (London was the guest city of this year’s Beijing Design Week.)

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The light and image show that was projected on the monument was undeniably impressive–even the jaded design crowd were in awe–and went on without a hitch.

Dashing off for more chic commie madness at another opening ceremony at the China Nationa Museum by Tiananmen Square.

Love,

Glenn Belverio

 

Glenn Belverio

Glenn Belverio is a writer and New Yorker. He has been reporting for ASVOF since 2005 and currently works at The Museum of Modern Art as the Content Manager for MoMA Design Store.