In the D.C. Comics universe, Gotham city in particular, Batman is the champion of justice and doesn’t wince when it comes to taking down the bad guys. The list of foes he’s beaten goes on and on. From the best villains, like The Joker, to the worst, the easily forgettable Calendar Man, Batman has faced all of his nemeses with both bravery and a dazzling array of gadgets on his side. That is until Batman faced his ultimate menace: Victoria Harbour! No, she’s not the latest vixen in a long line of super villains that spans decades. She’s just a harbour. A harbour that proved to be too much for Batman that is!

Filming of the sequel to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, has moved on location to Hong Kong. The storyboard is hot, but one scene was just too hot for Batman. Cut from the script is a scene that had Batman jumping from a plane straight into the waves below. According to the South China Morning Post, producers were concerned that the harbour promised to be too much of a health risk. A sample taken of the water found that there were insidious elements such as “tuberculosis and salmonella” getting jiggy with it. Reclamation of the harbour and years of pollution have wrought unknown havoc upon this historical body of water named in honor of Queen Victoria. If Batman isn’t up to the task of confronting this new arch nemesis, what hope do we have?

Cartoon: South China Morning Post

Chinese collectors, there’s a new record to beat. The “Red Cliff Handscroll,” the most famous work by Ming Dynasty artist Qiu Ying, was sold in Beijing Tuesday for $10.7 million USD, a new record for the sale of a Chinese painting. The record bid came from an unnamed private collector from the mainland, reported China Guardian Auctions, the house officiating the sale. The hefty price tag of “Red Cliff” stems from a renewed interest in Ming Dynasty artwork and the dearth of pieces left behind by Qiu. The Suzhou artist, an expert of the detailed gongbi brush technique, only left behind 40 works. The head of the the auction house said, “we are very pleased… not only has the auction price created a world record for a Chinese painting, it signifies a new stage for Chinese paintings in international sales.” The previous record for a Chinese painting was set by by Xu Beihong’s “Put Down Your Whip,” when it sold for $8.7 million US in Hong Kong earlier this year. While we at the China Arts Page congratulate the new owner of the “Red Cliff Handscroll,” we can’t help but wonder, where are you going to put a massive scroll?

Photo: China.org.cn

This column serves not only as a tribute to a great man with a great name, but it captures all those moments in China that make you stop for a second and do a double take. We have transmogrified “Oh snap!” to bring you “Bo Zaaaang!”

Freedom isn’t free, it costs a $1.50, or in G.O.D’s case, freedom will be set at the price of bail. More than “just a furniture store”, lifestyle retailer, G.O.D., found itself embroiled in a tussle with the “man” over freedom of expression. Known for its innovative designs and bilingual puns that combine traditional eastern aesthetics with a modern twist, G.O.D.’s latest fashion line, featuring allusions to triad group “14K”, has caused uproar with the Hong Kong Police Department. According to Bloomberg, “the police confiscated 88 T-shirts and more than 500 postcards from G.O.D.’s stores.” Moreover, they arrested 18 people including company founder, Douglas Young, for their fashion transgression. In his company’s defense, Young claims that the shirts are a reference to 14 karat gold and not the criminal syndicate of the same name. In Hong Kong, it is illegal for anyone to claim membership of or imply allegiance to triads. In this case, it’s the man 1 and freedom of design 0.

Photo: Goods of Desire Website

After weeks of discreet construction, the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art opened its doors Monday in Beijing’s rejuvenated Dashanzi art district. As Beijing has become the focal point of the global art scene in recent years, the Ullens Center, or UCCA will be ground zero for some of the world’s most sought after exhibits. It has been rumored in the past few years that the Dashanzi district, also known as “798″ would be demolished and transformed into new commercial properties but as a Bloomberg story Monday points out, the UCCA will breathe new life into an old art neighborhood desperately in need of resuscitation. According to Beijing art critic Karen Smith:

Models of the new UCCA, designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte in partnership with Shanghai-based Ma Qingyun, had been displayed in an adjacent space, now incorporated into the museum. They did not do justice to the scale of the completed interior, nor the fine balance between the retained “Bauhaus-style” elements and the stark, minimalist environment that has been introduced…The interior is cavernous and, despite the coolness of its blinding white skin, is immediately a visitor-friendly place.

The inaugural exhibit is entitled “‘85 New Wave,” which sounds more like the label of an old mix tape than an exhibit composed of China’s brightest post-Cultural Revolution artists. Subtitled “The Birth of Contemporary Chinese Art,” ‘85 New Wave showcases the seminal pieces from this reactive period by artists such as Zhang Xiaogang, Huang Yongping and Fei Dawei. The ‘85 New Wave exhibit runs through February 17. An adult ticket costs 30 RMB.

Photo: Series “X” 2 by Zhang Peili/oil on canvas

The 8th (not annual) China Arts Festival opened in Wuhan Monday night ushering in two weeks of exhibits and performances from over 8,000 artists. Unlike national arts festivals in other countries which tend to preview new artistic endeavors, China’s festival, as the organizers have said, will showcase “the latest major achievement and fruits of the Chinese cultural and art sectors over the past five years.” The arts festival, organized by China’s Ministry of Culture and the Wuhan local government features 54 Chinese shows and 10 foreign productions all competing for the coveted Wenhua prize. During the two-week festival, all of Wuhan’s museums and memorial halls are free to the public.

Photo: Xinhua

Monday night, for the first time ever, those Shanghai residents crazy in love with the R&B star Beyoncé Knowles will get to experience her music up close and personal at the Shanghai Grand Stage. Beyoncé’s Shanghai stop is part of the 8-stop Asia leg of her “The Beyoncé Experience” world tour, a seven-month sweep of five continents and over 90 cities. “The Beyoncé Experience” features an all-female band and a set list that includes such kiddy classics as “Crazy in Love,” “Baby Boy,” “Déjà Vu,” “Irreplaceable” and some of those old Destiny Child jams like “Say My Name,” “Bug a Boo” and “Soldier.” And those of you who like shiny costumes, you’re in for a treat — the singer will change six times and according to Emma Entertainment, the concert promoter, most every costume is silver.

Emma told state-run Xinhua that the show will showcase “the most imaginative choreography ever to have graced the Shanghai Grand Stage” which if you ask me, is a swipe at another soulful songstress who performed at this venue in June, someone who goes by the name “Xtina.” I guess they’re just trying to sell tickets. Of which there are many still available. Only the 2000RMB ($275) seats are sold out. It is a familiar pattern in Shanghai that only the most expensive seats sell out quickly and I’ll tell you why. Half these seats go to wealthy Western expats who are so tormented by the guilt of raising their Western children in mainland China, that when a Beyoncé concert comes to town, the whole family’s gonna sit front row. And the other half goes to super rich Shanghainese, who despite knowing not one song of Beyoncé’s, would never miss the opportunity to be front and center at a glitzy American cultural event like “The Beyoncé Experience.”

Beyoncé said of the Shanghai show, “China is one of the few countries that I haven’t had the opportunity to travel to and experience. I’m so honored that China is welcoming me as well as my band, dancers and staff. I’m very excited to meet the fans and embrace the culture.” Beyoncé’s entourage includes around 80 people, including her mother/stylist Tina Knowles who makes sure that Beyoncé’s hair gets did. Beyoncé was slated to perform in Shanghai alongside her boyfriend Jay-Z last October, however China’s censors canceled the show due to the graphic nature of the rapper’s lyrics.