23 November 1979–7 September 1980

From 23 November to 2 December 1979, the authorities permit a second venue, the Studio Hua Fang Zhai in Beihai Park, to host the Stars exhibition in Beijing. Ai Weiwei shows watercolour landscapes.

In July 1980, having failed to achieve recognition from either the Ministry of Culture or the Beijing Artists’ Association, the collective forms the Stars Painters Society with twelve founder members including Ai Weiwei.

From 20 August to 7 September 1980, the authorities allow the Stars Painters Society to hold an exhibition at the China Art Gallery in Beijing for a period of two weeks only. The first ever exhibition of contemporary art to be held in a museum, it draws some 200,000 visitors.

Photo: Ai Weiwei Shangai Street, 1979, pen and ink on paper, Christopher Tsai Collection