Art as a drug to expand your mind

he first time I had heard the name Peter Huang was when I interviewed Dutch artist Hans Mes, who pops into Nanjing to immerse in the art scene one a year or so. Then, Hans gave me some advice: "If you want to learn about the art scene in Nanjing, you have to get in touch with Peter Huang. He's like a rock star: flamboyant, influential and full of passion."

In the end, it took a half year to finally track Peter down. He's good friends with Debra Wright, a marketing executive at the Jinling Hotel. When HN told Debra about the charity auction at Jimmy's, she mentioned it to Peter, who then offered up a generous cash donation.

During the resulting communications, Peter sent me an email and invited me to check out his gallery space.

Nanjing Drug Art Museum

The space is unlike anything else you will find in Nanjing. After walking up a stone staircase, you will reach a platform. To the right is the museum, tucked into a hill.

Painted pure white with no furnishings (except for the art on the walls and a few display cases), it is a large space of winding corridors that places emphasis directly on the art.

To the right is a 2-storey 'lounge' building done up in rich wood. "This is like a bar area," Peter explained, "There are lots of places to relax in here and have a drink. In addition, we can hang more art on the walls, and show some video projection images as well."

Walking up to the second floor of the wooden building, you will come out onto a garden terrace with a nice view of the Nanjing skyline.

Peter summarized the entire scheme: "The Nanjing Drug Art Museum – though we haven't exactly decided on the name yet – will open in September or October. We won't be open every day, just for art events. Art is only a part of it, though. We want people to come together, get stimulation from the art, and then come together, to expand their minds by sharing new ideas and ways of thinking." Nanjing Drug Art Museum opening party

The space will officially open in late September or early October. While it will be publicized in local media, admission (free) will be by invitation only. During the event, there will be a DJ spinning inside the gallery, professional wine and snack service, and art pieces on display by six carefully-selected Nanjing artists.

According to Peter, the idea is to make it a socially stimulating event with a central focus on mental expansion via contemporary art.

The Drug Art philosophy

Huang Yao, or Peter Huang, studied at the Art School of Nanjing Normal University. Then he went to America to complete an MA at the Art School of the University of North Illinois, in Chicago. In 2005 he returned to China.

Says Peter: "After I graduated in Chicago, I travelled all over the world, but I didn't feel what I was seeking, in any place.

When I returned to China, I tried living a few months in each of the major cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and so on. But I still wasn't getting the right feeling, to feel inspired and produce art for a reason.

In 2006, I returned to Nanjing, my hometown. Then, I got the feeling."

Art is like drugs – people take them to expand awareness or step into a different reality than they normally perceive."In this writer's view, Peter Huang is a builder. He seems fully committed to help stimulate the community by bringing local and international artists together to induce social interaction and spread unconventional ideas. Importantly, his motives are wholly non-commercial.

Regarding the use of the word 'Drug' as a central aspect of his artistic identity, Peter said: "Art is like drugs, in the sense that people take them to expand their awareness, or else step out into a different reality than they normally perceive. Art is like drugs, in that sense – except it won't affect you physically. Rather, it is supposed to affect your spirit, and your soul."

Quotes from Peter Huang

• On the current status of the Nanjing Drug Art Museum: "Right now, I’m just hanging my own paintings, to show the effect of the space. But in September, I hope to make this space open to the public, especially for the benefit of talented Nanjing artists."
• On the changing state of non-commercial spaces in Nanjing: "Right now Nanjing artists really need contemporary art space. The Mufu Mountain collective is being relocated to an area further outside of town, and the Stone City Art Garden is also going to be relocating outside the city limits. Drug Art will be the last private museum for Nanjing artists, in the whole city. "
• On upcoming event plans: "The first show in September or October will feature 6 Nanjing artists within a socially stimulating environment. We’re thinking of calling it 65 degrees. For the second show, I have confirmed six ladies from England and six male artists from Nanjing artists, we’re thinking of calling it 6 + 6."
• On the difference between Drug Art and Mufu Mountain: "I think most Mufu artists, they’re looking in the traditional commercial direction. I select artists based on the strength of their creativity, to try something different, a challenge, not just in the traditional art/business way."
• On the focus of his own artwork: "I get ideas from my dreams, I see the art I am trying to create as not here in the body and not quite there in outer space, but visions of somewhere in between."
• On the possible existence of space aliens: "Definitely I think there are other life forms out there. The universe is such a huge space and Earth is so small by comparison. I imagine that there are more things waiting to be discovered out there, than there are things that we already know."

Meeting with the artists

A few days after my first meeting with Peter, Frantastic, Bjoern and I were invited back. I had imagined we were going to meet at the Drug Art space to chat over a drink. Instead, we were lead into a restaurant in the area and ushered upstairs into a private room.

Inside, there was Peter Huang and several other individuals with powerful eyes. The room was brimming with energy. As I sat down, Peter explained:

"These are the six artists that will be showing at the first event. I thought it would be nice for all of us to have an evening together."

And so we did, in a traditional Chinese way: a multitude of dishes on a revolving table plus a healthy (but not overwhelming) amount of baijiu, wine and beer.

The dinner was a stimulating exchange of ideas and mutual interests. In my opinion, HelloNanjing and the Drug Art collective have very similar goals.

In conclusion, there is too much to this story – I simply can't cover everything in a single article. Thus, consider this the first of a series, as HelloNanjing delves deeper into the Nanjing artist community.