About
Conceived by philosopher Christine Cayol as a "private version of the Villa Medicis," Yishu 8 is a Sino-French cultural foundation located in the former Sino-French University building. It is a refined, intimate sanctuary that bridges the gap between Eastern and Western thought through artistic residency programs. Every year, the foundation hosts young French artists in Beijing and Chinese artists in Paris, offering them an immersive environment to discover the "other" as a site of immense creative potential. Its mission is to foster a "philosophy of the encounter" between the two cultures.
Unlike traditional white-box museums, Yishu 8 is situated within a historic courtyard, where artworks are presented in a cozy, lived-in environment. The foundation’s programming includes prestigious solo exhibitions, literary symposiums, and Sino-European cultural relations books. By maintaining the original structure of its historic home while infusing it with vivid modern furnishings, Yishu 8 serves as a vital intellectual hub for Beijing's cultural elite and a primary site for the development of deep Sino-French artistic friendships.