Artzone - Timezone

In his Artzone-Timezone project Kamen Stoyanov goes to Peking to investigate its art district – the 798 Artzone. Lying on the outskirts of the city, it is based in a former military and manufacturing plant. Thanks to its many exhibitions the neighbouring area is vibrant, but the district has nevertheless developed a somewhat artificial air. It is here that two Chinese friends of the artist have taken on the roles of gallerists; each describes an artwork they have discovered on a scouting trip. Kamen Stoyanov himself plays the collector, sitting sedentarily in the Timezone café, hauling in his information. The three communicate with each other by SMS. From these SMS-messages, they have developed a rap, based on the tradition of karaoke in China. Stoyanov understands the song’s role as a kind of advertising slogan for the district, but uses it to explore his own problematic: the thin line between art and entertainment.