THE CONTRAST COULD not be more stark: on the one hand, a nice, safe Andy Warhol silkscreen; on the other, huge piles of faeces.
It's the difference between what's on show at the officially sanctioned 2nd Beijing International Art Biennial, which opens today, and the more shocking and challenging work being displayed elsewhere in the capital and across the country, such as in Guangzhou.
You won't find mounds of faeces at the Beijing Biennial. In fact, you won't find much apart from traditional mediums such as painting and sculpture - and the focus is by no means on mainland artists.
All of which rankles with many in the local arts community - especially given that much international focus is on more modern mediums such as video, installation and performance art.
The Beijing Biennial was established in 2003 with the aim of supporting and promoting China's booming arts. This year's budget is 10 million yuan, and there are more than 750 works on display by artists from more than 70 countries. There are also 'name' artists such as Warhol and German photo-realist Gerard Richter.
Officials say they limited their selection this year to painting and sculpture because these forms 'have not lost their potential for development'. Some Beijing artists regard this as a euphemism for 'have no potential to stir controversy'.
