Blink of an Eye: Beijing’s Urbanisation on Film (15*) + ScreenTalk
A selection of short documentary and experimental films that trace urban construction and development in Beijing and its surrounding areas across five decades.
Beijing has faced the Chinese government’s demands for modernisation and development over the decades. What has the rapid urbanization over the past 50 years meant for the lives of its people? Has this vision of the city, which is supposed to serve its residents, instead threatened their living spaces?
The programme includes films which immerse us in years of social collective memory from Beijing residents, a document of the last moments of an artist village, a split screen depiction of the city’s central axis and an experimental art video set in the newly constructed Beijing satellite city (Xiong'an New Area).
Curated by Chongjin Gan and Yutong Yu.
Ticket prices
Students £11
Unwaged £11
Over 60s £11
Under 18s £6
Wheelchair spaces, free companion seats may now be booked online.
Please select the relevant preferences on the access registration page during your booking, so we can provide you with the correct information and discounts.
Booking a wheelchair space
Select a seat displaying the wheelchair user icon and then select 'wheelchair user' ticket type. The ticket will be priced at the lowest price for that event. If you need an essential companion, please select the E icon next to the wheelchair space you have selected.
Booking essential companion tickets
Please select at least two tickets and one of them will be automatically discounted to zero in the basket.
Booking British Sign Language or Captioned Seats
Select seats in the area appropriate to your needs.
Booking fees
£1.50 booking fee per online/phone transaction.
No fee when tickets are booked in person.
Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.
Programme
Recycled
These images were sourced over the years from a recycling zone in the outskirts of Beijing. This archive of more than half a million 35mm colour film negatives is a photographic portrait of the capital and the life of its inhabitants over the last 30 years.
China 2012 dir Lei Lei &Thomas Sauvin 6 min, no dialogue
Artists of Yuanmingyuan
Over the course of a few years (1989–95), a group of young artists moved to the west suburbs of Beijing, seeking creative freedom among the lakes, woods, and Winter Palace ruins. This film tells their story.
China 1995 dir Hu Jie 40 min, in Mandarin with English subtitles
Up Down
Up Down is about a street and a square in the centre of China. On the ground is Changan Road, the centre of politics, finance and entertainment, and underground lies Subway Line 1, the main artery of transportation. Where there's an up, there's a down.
China 2007 dir Wang Wo 12min, in Mandarin with English subtitles.
Shunqiziran
In Xiongan, forests are sprouting on empty corn fields, and the burial mounds they once housed have been flattened, replaced by temporary columbariums. Shunqiziran depicts a spirit world in Xiongan, where local and non-professional actors in green screen suits roam.
China 2020 dir Sponge Gourd Collective (Diane Zhou, Beatrix Chu, Daphne Xu) 17 min, in Mandarin with English subtitles
Give a year of art, music, film and theatre
Cinema 2
Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.
Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS
Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.
Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you over the road to the venue.
Address
Beech Street, London
EC2Y 8DS
Nearby public transport
We are within walking distance from a number of London Underground stations, the closest being Barbican, St Paul’s and Moorgate. The nearest train stations are Liverpool Street and Farringdon. Bus Route 153 runs directly past the Barbican along Chiswell Street
Car and bicycle parking
We have free bicycle spaces and paid car parking spaces available
We’ve plenty of places for you to relax and replenish, from coffee and cake to wood-fired pizzas and full pre-theatre menus
Access
Level access from the Pit floor foyer only to the two boxes (see Mobility below). All other seats lead off stepped aisles.
Mobility
Two boxes at the rear of the auditorium each have space for one wheelchair user and a companion. Please book early and ask for these seats.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs may be taken into the cinema – please tell us when booking, to ensure your seat has enough space. If you prefer, you may leave your dog with a member of the foyer staff during the performance.
Hearing facility
There is an induction loop in the auditorium. You can use this by adjusting your hearing aid to the ‘T’ setting.
For more access information, please visit our Accessibility section.
Access
Cinemas 2 & 3 are located at Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican Centre’s main Silk Street entrance. There are a couple of steep, dropped kerbs and an incline to negotiate between the two sites. Level access from Beech Street.
Mobility
Each auditorium has three permanent wheelchair spaces (two in the third row and one in the front row) and 153 fixed seats with capacity for a further three spaces in the front row. Access to each auditorium is up a ramp. There are also a number of seats with step-free access.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs may be taken into the cinema – please tell us when booking to ensure your seat has enough space. If you prefer, you may leave your dog with a member of the foyer staff during the performance.
Hearing facility
An infrared system for hard of hearing customers is provided in each auditorium; headsets or neck loops can be collected from foyer staff. The ticket desk counter is fitted with an induction loop.
For more access information, please visit our Accessibility section.
