Blooming Spring: A Duo Art Exhibition by Chaoyang District Library and X Museum

The “Blooming Spring: A Duo Art Exhibition by Chaoyang District Library and X Museum" is guided by the Chaoyang District Culture and Tourism Bureau, hosted by Chaoyang District Library, and co-hosted by X Museum. Curated by You Yang and with exhibition design by PILLS, the project offers visitors a unique and poetic exhibition experience. As the first inter-institutional collaboration between the Chaoyang District Library and X Museum, the “Blooming Spring" exhibition carefully selects masterpieces of Chinese painting and oil painting from the collections of both institutions. Centered around the theme of “flowers", the exhibition showcases the vivid depictions of flowers created by generations of artists, conveying their aspirations and hopes. Contemporary art today is characterized by diverse forms, mediums, and a blend of Eastern and Western cultural elements. Integrating digital AI technology, the exhibition not only celebrates cultural heritage but also embraces innovation and creativity. As part of the exhibition, classic digital artworks from Chinese art history are also displayed, inviting the audience to appreciate the subtle nuances of culture and the evolution of brushwork over time. The grand opening of “Blooming Spring" coincides with the reopening of the upgraded Chaoyang District Library (Jinsong). Visitors can immerse themselves in the newly transformed space while experiencing the ambiance reminiscent of early 20th-century Beijing, where art appreciation during spring festivals was a cherished tradition. The space embodies the poetic essence of “harmony through adaptation," guiding visitors to explore the aesthetic spirit of Chinese painting.

Design Strategies Given the short preparation period and the spatial constraints of the venue, the exhibition had to progress from concept to completion within just two weeks, while adhering to a limited budget. In response to these challenges, we adopted a design strategy that emphasizes “seeing the big within the small.” Drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese garden design and its philosophy of transition and continuity, the design maximizes spatial usage, creating a visually dynamic experience that blends reality and illusion, density and openness. The design subtly integrates site limitations, ingeniously resolving spatial challenges. By utilizing the grid structure of the first-floor hall and the oblique axis of the second-floor corridor, the spatial rhythm is harmonized. The reconfiguration of geometric planes creates ample exhibition space while maintaining visual coherence. The exhibition walls, built using a quick-assembly system, feature a traditional Chinese red color palette, accented with the classic honeysuckle pattern—symbolizing longevity and prosperity. This combination of vivid colors and traditional motifs enhances the artistic ambiance and festive spirit, harmonizing the design with the exhibition's curatorial intentions. - Dialectical: The Poetic Imagery of Openness and Profoundness The Tang Dynasty poet Liu Zongyuan once described the duality of gardens as “openness and profoundness” in his essay “Record of the Eastern Hill of Longxing Temple in Yongzhou". Later, Ji Cheng’s “The Craft of Gardens" elaborated on this concept. “Openness" refers to an expansive and airy quality, creating a sense of visual breathing and depth—much like the borrowed scenery and void spaces in garden design. “Profoundness," on the other hand, conveys layered depth, concealing a sense of discovery within light and shadow, often achieved through rock formations, dense foliage, winding paths, and flower walls. To address the limited exhibition space, the design strategy draws inspiration from these garden principles, creating a transparent and extended spatial layout. Chinese architectural elements such as pavilions, water pavilions, scenic windows, and winding paths are incorporated into the spatial structure, integrating the library’s visual elements into the exhibition context. This approach not only enriches the space with a cultural atmosphere but also embeds the narrative of changing scenes with every step. Borrowed Scenery: The exhibition incorporates visual elements from the library’s first-floor lobby, including the relief screen, LED information displays, and the cultural and creative coffee space, forming layered and profound spatial connections. Framed Scenery: Architectural elements such as doors, windows, and pavilions frame the library’s landscape, creating picturesque views. The three sides of the exhibition hall feature scenic windows and a pavilion designed as a moored boat, serving as resting areas for visitors. Concealed Scenery: Artificial mountains, screens, and flower walls obscure sightlines, inviting visitors to explore hidden spaces. The use of perforated windows creates a sense of visual separation while maintaining continuity, enhancing the understated and introspective quality of traditional Chinese painting. These garden-inspired spatial techniques not only reflect the essence of traditional Chinese aesthetics but also resonate with contemporary exhibition design, offering an immersive and innovative spatial experience. - Adaptive: Turning Constraints into Opportunities The design cleverly adapts to the site’s structural challenges, including the grid system of the first-floor hall and the oblique corridor of the second floor. By rotating and overlapping the grid, the exhibition layout aligns with the corridor’s dynamic flow, seamlessly integrating the structural columns into the exhibition pathway. Concealed wiring within the transformed grid structures ensures a clean and coherent presentation, while the offset geometries create an inviting entrance, guiding visitors through the space. The adaptive grid system fosters a fluid connection between exhibition elements, such as the introductory wall, historical artifacts from the library, literature cabinets, and the dynamic spaces between overlapping grids. This layout breaks spatial rigidity, embracing openness and flexibility. Carefully controlled heights and visual guidance enhance the spatial rhythm, while high exhibition panels at corners attract and direct the viewer’s gaze. To ensure sustainability, we utilized a quick-assembly system. The basic framework of the exhibition walls was rapidly built using lightweight materials, followed by the installation of fabric panels. These fabric surfaces, made from recyclable materials, reflect our commitment to sustainable design and the possibility of reusing materials after the exhibition ends.

Conclusion With the reopening of the Chaoyang District Library, this cultural landmark—long a keeper of the city’s memory—has transformed into a vibrant “urban living room” that seamlessly blends reading, exhibitions, dialogue, and everyday life. Through a collaborative effort between PILLS and the curatorial team, the design not only revitalizes the physical space but also fosters a dialogue between tradition and modernity, encouraging meaningful connections between visitors and artworks. The exhibition has garnered widespread attention from mainstream media such as Xinhuanet and People’s Daily, as well as enthusiastic social media engagement from visitors. This positive response affirms that when libraries become cultural generators and art exhibitions permeate public cultural spaces, knowledge transcends the confines of books, evolving into cross-media experiences that shape a new reading culture for the next generation.

Project Information Exhibition Name: Blooming Spring: A Duo Art Exhibition by Chaoyang District Library and X Museum Exhibition Venue: Chaoyang District Library (Jinsong) Opening Date: February 7, 2025 Guiding Institution: Chaoyang District Culture and Tourism Bureau Organizer: Chaoyang District Library Co-Organizer: X Museum Curator: Yang You Collaborative Support: BOE, Tiandi Zhongxing, Xiangwai Space Exhibition Design: PILLS Lead Designer: Zigeng Wang Design Team: Chenyao Liu, Manying Wang, Shujie Huang, Xinyan Li, Xiangwen Bai, Yafang Shi Photography: Yuting Zhang, UKstudio