_Beatrice Leanza
Curator Across Chinese Cities
A cultural strategist, curator and critic based in Beijing since 2002, she earned an MA in Asian studies from Ca’Foscari University (Venice) specializing in the history of Asian and contemporary Chinese art. She is the former creative director of Beijing Design Week – China’s largest and internationally best reputed design and architecture event (2012-2016). In 2015 and 2016 she acted as founding director of Baitasi Remade, the urban regeneration plan for Baitasi historic district in Beijing, shaping stakeholders’ relations across the governmental, private and public sectors.
Having started her career as a curator at CAAW (China Art Archives and Warehouse), the historical alternative art space founded by artist Ai Weiwei in the late 1990s, she had later founded the research practice BAO Atelier, developing exhibitions, festivals and editorial projects across Asia and Europe.
Her writings and initiatives have appeared in numerous publications such as Artforum, Abitare, CNN Style, Domus, Dezeen, Disegno magazine, Frieze, Frame, Flash Art Intl’, Blueprint Magazine, Metropolis, T Magazine (The NYTimes), IDEAT, Liberation/NEXT, The Good Life, Il Sole 24 ore, Il Corriere della Sera, among others.
She is the author of ‘Ideas in Action – Critical Design Practice in China’ (2016) and lectures internationally about her curatorial practice.
In 2017 she cofounded B/Side Design an international organization currently working at the establishment of China’s first independent institute for design & creative research – The Global School.
_Michele Brunello
Curator Across Chinese Cities
Michele Brunello (Verona, 1975) is an architect who works between Milan and Venice. In 2011, he founded DONTSTOP architettura with Marco Brega. Since 2016, he has been founder and creative director of the Sino European Innovation Institute in Milan. Previously, he was a partner at Stefano Boeri Architetti and co-founded the SBA start-up in Shanghai.
Key projects undertaken with DONTSTOP architettura include the regeneration of the San Siro Stadium, the Cluster of Spices at EXPO 2015, various residential projects such as “Abitare in Maggiolina” and the Parco dell’Abitare district in Lodi; urban interventions including the new Town Plan of the Municipality of Pordenone, and the “Manifesto for Urban Creative Districts” and “Venice Opportunity Lab” research projects. He founded the AttualAmente group and has curated exhibitions with Hans Ulrich Obrist and Armin Linke.
In addition to his curatorial and design activities, he continuously pursues his academic career, teaching at Milan Polytechnic of Milan and IUAV University of Venice, the Haute Future Fashion Academy in Milan, among others. He has held workshops and lectures at the AA School of Architecture in London, the Graz University of Technology, the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe, and the Center of Mediterranean Architecture Chania.
He has also curated books and publications, including “Biomilano” by Stefano Boeri for Corraini Edizioni and “Effetto Maddalena” with Francisca Insulza for Rizzoli International / Abitare Segesta.
_Wu Wenyi
Curator Guest City Suzhou
In addition to his role as curator Wu Wenyi is an architect, who has worked for many years in the architecture practice Urbanus and Sunlay Design.
He is an experienced designer in cultural park and campus planning, city regeneration and renewal, and he has designed many projects such as museums, art galleries, commercial centers and high-rise buildings, factories as well as children educational facilities etc.
Apart from architectural design, he has been also engaged with architectural education, formerly working at the Department of Architecture and Interior Design in Miami University in Ohio, USA.