Beijing’s 798 art district is hosting a series of contemporary art exhibitions beginning on August 15, 2009. Known as the Beijing Biennial, the festival will bring together over 70 Chinese and international artists.

The program’s artistic director, Zhu Qi, and its curatorial director of international content, Marc Hungerbuhler, gave short speeches, and the ambassadors of Germany, Chile and Korea, officials of Beijing government were also at presence.

The theme of the event is “constellations.” It comes from the idea that constellations are made up of stars that seem close, but are in fact extremely far away from each other. The exhibit will explore complex questions of distance and position by examining the ways in which migration and marginalized people interact and create cross-cultural identities.

Their exhibits will include painting, sculpture, photography, video, installation, performance, sound works, media art, and site-specific public art.

The biennale will last until September 12, 2009.

Script: Huang Lan | Video: Lou Yi