Mario Cristiani, co-founder of Galleria Continua, reflects on the gallery's 20-year journey in Beijing, describing how a meeting with three friends united by admiration for artist Chen Zhen led to opening a space in China. He recounts the vibrant early 2000s art scene, the transformative impact of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the gallery's initial five years without sales, emphasizing that success in China required credibility, consistency, and genuine cultural integration rather than commercial exploitation.
This article matters because it offers a rare, firsthand perspective on the maturation of China's art market from a Western gallerist who prioritized long-term dialogue over short-term profit. Cristiani's insights into today's more knowledgeable collectors and the market's consolidation phase provide valuable context for understanding current business opportunities and challenges in Asia's art ecosystem, particularly as global attention shifts toward the region.