Chien Men 23

Weng Ling is a trailblazer in China, being among the earliest to dedicate herself to establishing independent art and cultural spaces in the heart of urban centers. Since the 1990s, she has served as the director of renowned art institutions such as the Central Academy of Fine Arts Gallery, Shanghai Bund No. 3 Hu Shen Gallery, Chien Men 23 in Beijing, and the Tian’an Time Contemporary Art Center. During this period, she propelled a generation of Chinese contemporary artists, including Zhang Xiaogang, Zhou Chunya, Gu Dexin, Xu Bing, Tan Dun, Liu Wei, Zeng Fanzhi, Lin Tianmiao, Yan Peiming, Ye Yongqing, and others, into a broader societal perspective. Beyond continually curating the academic value of China’s contemporary art history, she steadfastly places art at the core, inspiring social innovation and making it a driving force for leading real-world transformations. These art spaces showcase the most outstanding contemporary art creations from China to the global stage, becoming pivotal venues shaping avant-garde ideologies.

In 2008, Weng Ling co-founded Chien Men 23 and established the Tian’an Time Contemporary Art Center. This project stands as the unique intersection in the heart of Beijing, combining the functions of a non-profit contemporary art institution and a professional gallery, creating a comprehensive art space and a top-tier creative complex. Situated at Chien Men 23, it pioneered the integration of rich artistic, cultural, commercial, and lifestyle formats, marking the inception of China’s indigenous art centers. Its vision and mission lie in exploring the essence of art within an interdisciplinary context, providing the most vibrant and creative platform for contemporary artistic creation, and integrating contemporary art into the process of social development.