Historic Beijing courtyard houses art exhibition about time, memory

Editor's note: An art exhibition at Beijing's Shikongji Art Museum has transformed a historic hutong courtyard into an interactive experience exploring childhood memories and urban life.

"Amusement Park Temporal," which opened on Aug. 7, features installations, films and interactive displays. The museum says the exhibition encourages visitors to reconsider their perception of time.

The exhibition uses the courtyard's traditional architecture as a space for visitors to explore different concepts of time. It is organized into seven sections that combine contemporary art with collective memory: brass seals that make the past touchable; intimate paintings that present dusk as healing; documentary photographs of aging amusement rides; mechanized sculptures made from old metal; and a communal weaving device that transforms personal memories into a shared experience.

Rather than creating a nostalgic archive or spectacle, the exhibition uses interactive play to help visitors reconnect with their daily experiences and sense of community. The exhibition will run until Oct. 30.

The exterior entrance of Shikongji Art Museum shows a minimalist sign marking the opening of the "Amusement Park Temporal" exhibition, Beijing, Sept. 1, 2025. [Photo by Liu Ziying/China.org.cn]