Two exhibitions opened as the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art (Suzhou MoCA) came into trial operation in SIP on Jan 17.
In Pavilion 4, the exhibition themed “The Director’s Room: Cai Chusheng” allows visitors to be instantly immersed in the golden age of Chinese realist cinema. It is designed to mark the 120th anniversary of the birth of Cai Chusheng, a key figure in the transition from early exploration to maturity in Chinese film. The “Song of the Fishermen”, a film Cai directed, won a prize at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1935, becoming the first Chinese film to win international recognition and laying the groundwork for Chinese cinema’s journey onto the global stage.
In Pavilion 7, the exhibition themed “BIG: Materialism” showcases the rational beauty of architecture. Jointly curated by the Suzhou MoCA and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the Danish architectural firm that designed the museum, it consists of two parts comprising 10 booths and a special exhibition zone to present a dialogue on construction logic and spatial awareness centering on materials, with the Suzhou MoCA as a major example.
The museum has received positive feedback from visitors. On the first and second days of its opening, the daily visitor footfall exceeded 1,000, while on regular weekdays, attendance remained stable at around 300.
The museum has specially arranged complimentary scheduled guide services for visitors to the exhibitions, with an additional English-language guided tour every Saturday to cater to the needs of different audiences. It is expected to officially open in late June.
January 23, 2026
