Beijing is ablaze with the visit of the Australian Prime Minister
Beijing is ablaze with the visit of new Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who delivers speeches in perfect Mandarin, punctuated with Chinese proverbs… and his wife Therese Rein, so it wasn’t altogether surprising that I should run into her at the influential Australian Red Gate gallery yesterday as I was coming in and she was going out.
We smiled broadly at each other – mine motivated by pure pleasure and recognition, hers probably because she’s that kind of person. We haven’t met – although I’m from Australia –it was just one of those memorable moments that happen when you see fellow countrymen away from home.
The gallery, incidentally is a special treat. Located in a gatehouse of the ancient city wall, it’s almost a complete experience before you’ve seen the art. Up a myriad of steps and restored ramparts, you are thrust into a scenario from the mysteries of the Ming and Sung era past.
Inside the gallery, the setting exhibits the exact contrasts that constitute contemporary Beijing – the original architecture and exposed walls, set with modern art. The current artist represented in the main room is Wei Qingji whose work rests on the juxtaposition of influences on Beijingingers – the confusion of the timeworn old of the Mao regime and furious Westernization of the current day. It’s a perfect key to the culture..
Furthering the Australian emphasis of the day, the PR Director of my hotel (the new Ritz Carlton, opened in December 2007), Kaarin Lindsay from Melbourne, Australia, was yesterday awarded the company PR Director of the Year for Asia.
Not bad for a 33 year old, who only arrived here from Sydney a year ago and is competing with the other luminary chains spreading frantically across Asia. Her bright and breezy style, backed by a steely efficiency has made its mark at the Four Seasons, Sydney and previously Park Hyatt, Melbourne and Hyatt Coolum.
I’m just off to join her in the hotel’s Italian restaurant Barola for lunch. Ciao from China.
We smiled broadly at each other – mine motivated by pure pleasure and recognition, hers probably because she’s that kind of person. We haven’t met – although I’m from Australia –it was just one of those memorable moments that happen when you see fellow countrymen away from home.
The gallery, incidentally is a special treat. Located in a gatehouse of the ancient city wall, it’s almost a complete experience before you’ve seen the art. Up a myriad of steps and restored ramparts, you are thrust into a scenario from the mysteries of the Ming and Sung era past.
Inside the gallery, the setting exhibits the exact contrasts that constitute contemporary Beijing – the original architecture and exposed walls, set with modern art. The current artist represented in the main room is Wei Qingji whose work rests on the juxtaposition of influences on Beijingingers – the confusion of the timeworn old of the Mao regime and furious Westernization of the current day. It’s a perfect key to the culture..
Furthering the Australian emphasis of the day, the PR Director of my hotel (the new Ritz Carlton, opened in December 2007), Kaarin Lindsay from Melbourne, Australia, was yesterday awarded the company PR Director of the Year for Asia.
Not bad for a 33 year old, who only arrived here from Sydney a year ago and is competing with the other luminary chains spreading frantically across Asia. Her bright and breezy style, backed by a steely efficiency has made its mark at the Four Seasons, Sydney and previously Park Hyatt, Melbourne and Hyatt Coolum.
I’m just off to join her in the hotel’s Italian restaurant Barola for lunch. Ciao from China.
posted by Jill@flyingconnoisseur at 10:54 PM
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