Galleria illy - Beijing 1st

Trieste, Italy, August 3rd, 2012 - After New York, Milan, Trieste, Istanbul, Berlin and London, Gallery illy is to open October 26th, 2012 in Beijing, in China, inside Parkview Green FangCaoDi, a compound recently built in the Central Business District of the city.

Galleria illy is a temporary space, the expression of philosophy and values of illy, the Italian brand of high quality coffee. It is a culture salon where some of the leading protagonists at international level in the world of arts, literature, science, design, wine and food get together. Every day, with Università del caffè, the culture of coffee has the role of main actor, with classes and tastings.

Galleria illy is hosted every time by a different city, at the forefront of creativity. In Beijing, hearth of the millenary Chinese culture and now a global and cosmopolitan metropolis, illy found the same cultural crossover and artistic contaminations which are part of its DNA.  

The symbol of Galleria illy will be the Chandelier: it will display in a suspended helix the history of the illy Art Collection cups, the well known and clearest expression of the close link existing between illy and art. Taking into account the place where it is to be set, the Chandelier of Galleria illy Beijing will be manufactured in giant sizes. It will weigh 2 tons, it will have a diameter of 8 meters, it will be  5,2 meter tall and it will be shaped  as a helix of 5 rims. It will be made of  66 coffee cups chosen among over 300 designed so far in twenty years  by the most outstanding representatives of contemporary art. Each cup will weigh 6 kilograms, will be 62 cm wide, will have a base of 32 cm of diameter and will be 50,5 cm tall. Forty five days will be required to manufacture it, so to be suspended at the center of the Parkview Green grand hall.

The Chinese artist Liu Wei and the photographer Sebastião Salgado are among the many performers who will participate to Galleria illy Beijing, in sessions open to the public. On this occasion, the new issue of illywords – the magazine through which the company has a constant dialogue with the worlds of art and culture - whose graphic images are designed by China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) of Beijing, will be launched.

As usual, Galleria illy will represent a chance to meet people and partners with whom illycaffè has been working for years: Moroso, which shares its passion for beauty, art and the territory;  Charta, publisher of many artists who work for the company of Trieste; and Le Meridien, the chain of luxury hotels with which it has started a partnership.

During the event, illy baristas of Università del Caffè will offer some free classes of espresso tasting and making.

The program details will be announced at the end of August.

 

Galleria illy Beijing
Opening: October 26th, 2012
Opening hours: October 27th - December 2nd, 2012 - from 10 a.m to 10 p.m.
Address: Parkview Green FangCaoDi, No.9, DongDaQiao Rd., Chaoyang Dist., Beijing, China

Based in Trieste, Italy, illycaffé produces and markets a unique blend of espresso coffee under a single brand leader in quality. Over 6 million cups of illy espresso coffee are enjoyed every day. illy is sold in over 140 countries around the world and is available in more than 100,000 of the best restaurants and coffee bars. espressamente illy, the chain of franchised Italian-style coffee bars is now present in 30 countries and comprises more than 230 outlets. With the aim of spreading the coffee culture, illy has founded the Università del caffè, the centre of excellence offering theoretical and practical training on every aspect of coffee for coffee growers, coffee shops staff and enthusiasts. On a global level illycaffè employs about 800 people and has a consolidated turnover of €342 million. (2011 results)

About Parkview Green FangCaoDi. Parkview Green FangCaoDi is one of China's greenest buildings and the first in China to be pre-certified LEED® Platinum as an urban mixed-use development.

Everything at Parkview Green FangCaoDi encompasses this fresh approach - from the building's own micro-climate designed to give visitors a breath of fresh air, to unique and original retail concepts that showcase brands in an exciting way, as well as featuring a collection of sculptural masterpieces by Salvador Dali in addition to rotating events and exhibits.

Parkview Green FangCaoDi not only captures the imagination with its sustainable design, but remains always fresh through its constantly evolving collection of experiences for those who live, work or visit this iconic Beijing landmark.

For more information:
Anna Adriani/Christine Pascolo,illycaffè, Ph. +39 040/3890111