Get cultured at the best art shows in Beijing

Wu Jian’an: Seven Layered Shell Until Dec 16. Traditional paper-cutting not only goes modern – it goes big, too. Free. Chambers Fine Art, Red No.1-D, Caochangdi, Chaoyang District (5127 3298) chambersfineart.com 朝阳区 草场地红一号D座前波画廊

Comedy: Cinderella Dec 8- 18. Beijing Playhouse’s crazy version of the fairy tale in the British Christmas tradition. RMB 300/260 (door/advance), RMB 150/130 (students + children, door/advance). 7.30pm (Thu-Sat), 2pm (Sun). Trojan House Theater, 22 International Art Street, Pingod, 32 Baiziwan Lu, Chaoyang District, Chaoyang District (5711 0860/2128) 朝阳区百 子湾路32号22院街艺术区木 马剧场

Qiu Qijing: Light and Dust Until Dec 19. China’s “bad boy” sculptor works with blue-and-white porcelain and white jade. Free. White Box Museum, B07, 2 Jiauxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5978 4801) 798whitebox.com 朝 阳区酒仙桥路2号798艺术区 路B07号

Mo Yi: Through My Eyes Pictured above. Until Dec 31. The eyes have it in this exploration of how we view others and ourselves. Free. The Opposite House, 11 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6410 5230) 朝阳区三里屯路11号瑜舍地下

Alexandre Detry: From a Common World to an Extraordinary One Dec 5-Jan 5. In this photography exhibition, opposites attract. Free. Alliance Française, Guangcai International Mansion, 18 Gongtixilu, Chaoyang District (6553 2678 ext 209fr/207cn, dgculture@afchine.org) afchine.org 朝阳区工体西路 18号光彩国际公寓2层北京法 语培训中心-光彩校区

Women’s World Photography Competition: Finalists Dec 5-Jan 5. Which photographer deserves to win? Free. Alliance Française Xihai Center, 103 Deshengmennei Dajie, Xihai, Xicheng District (6404 2643) 西城区德胜门内 大街103号

Depth of Field Dec 3-Jan 6. Belgian’s best young photographers present a range of styles: absurdist, historic, portrait and punk. Free. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, 155 East End Art, Caochangdi Village (Next to Platform China), Chaoyang District (6432 2663) threeshadows. cn 朝阳区草场地艺 术东区155号(站台中国旁) 三 影堂摄影艺术中心

Zhang Dali: World’s Shadows Until Jan 8. The artist who left his silhouette on demolition sites all around Beijing in the ’90s is now using cyanotype photography to striking effect. Free. Pekin Fine Arts 241, Caochangdi, Cuigezhuang, Chaoyang District (5127 3220) pekinfinearts.com 朝阳区崔各 庄乡草场地村241号艺门画廊

Wang Qiang: Venus Hotel Until Jan 15. In these new works, surreal compositions juxtapose the abstract with the strikingly real. Free. White Space Beijing, Airport Service Road, No. 255 Caochangdi, Chaoyang District (8456 2054) 朝阳区机场辅路草场地255号

Zhu Zi: Mountain River Water Until Jan 15. Zen and geometry come together in Zhu’s works on paper. Free. White Space Beijing, Airport Service Road, No. 255 Caochangdi, Chaoyang District (8456 2054) 朝阳区机场辅路 草场地255号

Catherine Nelson: Future Memories Until Jan 20. Ethereal landscape photography warped into perfect spheres. Free. Galerie Paris-Beijing, 798 Dashanzi Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District, Chaoyang District (5978 9262) 朝朝阳区酒仙桥路4号大山子 艺术区巴黎 北京画廊

Wu Shanzhuan and Inga Svala Thorsdottir: Kuo Xuan Until Jan 20. The longtime collaborators bring us their mix of character-based graphics, photography and sculpture. Free. Long March Space, Dashanzi art district, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5978 9768) 朝阳区大 山子艺术区长征空间

Annick Gaston + A De: Like the Air Chasing the Wind Dec 4-Jan 22. A French engraver and a Chinese poet team up. Free. Art base one, D area, Hegezhang village, Cuigezhuang township, Chaoyang District (6433 6920/6913, info@laplantation. cn) 朝阳区崔各庄乡何各庄村 一号地艺术区璃墟国际艺术空 间 laplantation.cn

Lu Song: Dawn Villa Until Jan 22. Lu rebels against the perfectionist training of Chinese art in his series with oil and charcoal. Free. Alexander Ochs Galleries Beijing, 255 Caochangdi, Jichang Fulu, Chaoyang District (8456 2054) alexanderochs-galleries.com 朝阳区机场辅路草场地255号

Apichatpong Weerasethakul: For Tomorrow For Tonight Until Feb 10. Independent Thai filmmaker examines night with his new exhibition, blending video with image and sound from his previous films to create an emotional, sensory dream. RMB 15. UCCA Dashanzi 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5780 0200) ucca.org.cn 朝阳区酒仙桥路 4号798艺术区尤伦斯当代艺 术中心

Curated by Zhan Wang: Tang Yuhan: Interior Divination Until Feb 10. Feng shui, interior decorating and high art combine. Free. UCCA Dashanzi 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5780 0200) ucca.org. cn 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798艺术 区尤伦斯当代艺术中心

Kolkoz: Parallax Until Feb 10. The French artistic duo mix tourist photos with NASA training photos for a cheeky series of illusions. RMB 15. UCCA Dashanzi 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5780 0200) 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798艺术区 尤伦斯当代艺术中心

Cheng Ran: Hot Blood, Warm Blood, Cold Blood Until Feb 12. Apparently, Boiling Blood and Tepid Blood didn’t make the cut. Free. Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne, No. 104, Caochangdi, Chaoyang District (6433 3393) galerieursmeile.com 朝阳区草 场地104号

Wang Xingwei Until Feb 12. Still-lifes turned portrait, like her “flower pot old lady.” Free. Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne, No. 104, Caochangdi, Chaoyang District (6433 3393) galerieursmeile.com 朝阳区草 场地104号

Zhan Wang: My Personal Universe Until Feb 25. Watch a giant boulder explode from six different angles on HD slow-mo. RMB 15. UCCA Dashanzi 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5780 0200) ucca.org. cn 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798艺术 区尤伦斯当代艺术中心

Lin Tianmiao: The Same Until Feb 26. The globally respected feminist artist unveils installations laboriously ensconced in yarn and gold foil. Free. Beijing Center for the Arts, 23 Qianmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng District (6559 8008) beijingcenterforthearts. com 东城区前门东大街23号天 安时间当代艺术中心