From September 20 to October 13, 2024, Sandwich Gallery organized the third edition of the Garage Sale project in Beijing, China, with the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute*.
Garage Sale, a long-term project by the organization, started in 2019 at Combinatul Fondului Plastic in Bucharest, introduces a challenging shift in the art fair format and creates a new type of exhibition: an event where artworks and mass-produced objects coexist and share the same dynamic.
Strengthening relationships with Chinese partners from CLC Gallery Venture, Garage Sale - Made in Romania and China was an exhibition-event that explored fundamental concepts such as artistic and economic freedom, cultural and national identity. The exhibition featured works by Liliana Basarab, Nele Brökelmann & June Yu, Vasile Leac, Nico Mureș, Alexandru Niculescu, Daniela Palimariu, Cristian Răduță, Alexandru Ranga, Dan Vezentan, and Chinese artists selected through an open call. The project was curated by Maria Bîrsan.
The program included discussions, guided tours, and performances in public spaces and at C5CNM in the 798 Art District, Beijing, China.
Event schedule:
- September 20-21-22: Garage Sale: Made in Romania and China exhibition-event in the public space of the 798 Art District and at the Diplomatic Residence Compound building (北京市朝阳区东方东路19号亮马桥官舍南区地下一层)
Key discussions held during the event included:
September 20: Guided tours in two sessions (1:00 PM and 5:00 PM) of the exhibition alongside participating artists and the curator – the public had the opportunity to ask questions about the artists' work process and learn more about contemporary Romanian art.
September 23, 5:00 PM: Collective dialogue “Artist, Organiser and Everything in Between” with Liliana Basarab, Dan Vezentan, Cristian Răduță, and Maria Bîrsan. The discussion focused on the complex activities of artists who, through their practice, initiate, activate, and strengthen artistic communities.
September 24, 25, 26: Guided tours with Chinese organizers in the 798 Art District and areas of interest, fostering an exchange of experiences for Romanian artists.
September 28, 5:00 PM: Artist talk by Alexandru Niculescu, co-initiator of the Garage Sale format, and Daniela Palimariu, co-founder of Sandwich, in dialogue with Yi Zhou, co-founder of CLC Gallery Venture at the Beijing Inside Out Art Museum. The three discussed the art scene in Bucharest and Romania, their experiences as artists and cultural organizers, and the similarities and differences between the artistic practices observed in China and Romania.
September 30, 6:00 PM: Opening of the exhibition-capsule Garage Sale: The Harmless Show at C5CNM Gallery (3 Qixing East st., 798 Art District, Chaoyang, Beijing).
Garage Sale: Made in Romania and China, in collaboration with C5CNM Gallery and CLC Gallery Venture, contributed to the creation of new cultural content at the international level.
*This project was co-financed by the Romanian Cultural Institute through the CANTEMIR Program – a funding program for cultural projects aimed at international audiences. The Romanian Cultural Institute is not responsible for the content of the project or how the results may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding beneficiary.
