ARANYA Art Center has opened a new branch in Guangzhou, establishing its presence in both northern and southern China.

Designed by Chinese architect Dong Gong, Aranya Art Center Guangzhou is situated on the riverside within the CTG · Aranya · Jiulonghu community, covering an area of 6,166.74 square meters. It represents the latest collaboration between Vector Architects and Aranya, envisioned as a hub for art exhibitions and cultural activities for the local community.

The building connects five galleries around preserved banyan trees through alleys, gardens, plazas, and covered walkways.

A 50-meter-long avenue, shaded by 25 mature banyan trees and adjacent groves, along with the undulating micro-topography, reflects the genius loci of the site.

At its two ends, the Pavilion and the Main Hall serve as outdoor and indoor anchors, extending the site’s natural sequence. Three smaller galleries are interwoven with old trees and terrain through variations in ground elevation. Walkways, terraces, and overhanging eaves guide visitors through a serene, layered garden-like environment.

The inaugural program at Aranya Art Center Guangzhou features the first solo exhibition in Asia by Wiebke Siem, one of Germany’s most significant contemporary artists. Siem was awarded the prestigious Goslarer Kaiserring in 2014.

In parallel, a sculpture by the renowned Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi, “Giacometti’s Shadow,” is on view in the museum’s Pavilion space.

Recognized as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Noguchi in his later years engaged with traditional Japanese paper crafts and industrial metalworking techniques to create a series of galvanized steel sculptures, including the work on view.

“Giacometti’s Shadow” offers an abstract response to the iconic elongated figures in the sculptures of Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti. Through the tensions between the natural and the manmade, the light and the heavy, the soft and the hard, it reveals Noguchi’s unique artistic vision that bridges East and West.

In addition, 10 representative architectural projects at Aranya by 10 architectural firms, including models, manuscripts, and related documents, are being exhibited for the first time at the venue.

Aranya Art Center is a kunsthalle for contemporary art, powered by Aranya, a seaside community in Beidaihe, Qinhuangdao City in Hebei Province. It operates as an independent, non-profit institution. Since its opening in May 2019, the Aranya Art Center has presented more than 30 exhibitions, as well as comprehensive museum exhibitions. The Guangzhou branch is Aranya Art Center’s first branch outside its headquarter city, Qinhuangdao.

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday

Address: Aranya Art Center Guangzhou, Jiulonghu, Huadong Town, Huadu District, Guangzhou(Wang Jingli)