Guangyi Wang

Swiss collector Uli Sigg has played in the time of economic opening of China by Mao an essential role, which is still continuing. To better understand China, in 1980 as an entrepreneur and business expert to the country called Sigg art turns to and wears for years the most important collection of contemporary Chinese art together. THE CHINESE LIVES OF ULI SIGG granted for the first time a comprehensive insight into the exciting and extraordinary life of the entrepreneur, diplomat and art collector. Contemporary artists like Ai Weiwei, Zeng Fanzhi, Cao Fei, Fang Lijun Wang Guangyi or consider him a friend and mentor to whom they could entrust their works, to protect them against the arbitrary destruction of the authorities. The majority of them are over the Sigg museum M + in Hong Kong, which expected to open in 2019 and the works will be presented to the general public.

Beijing, Summer 1983. A group of young artists gathers in the hutongs for a dance party at the home of one of their friends when a policeman happens upon the scene. In the rigid times just after the Cultural Revolution, harsh punishments were dealt to those participating in activities deemed illegal. Several others had already been sentenced to execution by firing squad or been dealt life without parole for hosting similar parties. The policeman insists on arresting the young artists, and in a fit of panic, they beat him unconscious, deciding later to dig an underground prison where they keep him from then on. For thirty-three years, the artists guard the policeman in shifts. Over these thirty-three years, China goes through a massive transformation unbeknownst to the policeman until the summer of 2016 when he escapes…