Chinese Art Collector Shot Dead

Guy and Myriam Ullens at the opening of UCCA in 2007

The art world is in shock following the death of Myriam Ullens, who was allegedly shot fatally by her step-son, Nicolas Ullens. Myriam Ullens was the wife of Guy Ullens, and the couple were well known for their massive collection of contemporary Chinese art. Myriam was 70.

The couple were in their car outside their home in the village of Ohain, south of Brussels when her step-son allegedly fired at her and she died at the scene; Guy Ullens survived the shooting. 

Nicolas and Myriam were apparently in a protracted dispute regarding the issue of inheritance.

Xu Bing's A Book from the Sky at UCCA

The Ullens' made a huge splash in the art scene in Beijing when they opened the Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art in 2007, and I attended the opening with colleagues when I worked at China Daily. 

We interviewed the couple and took in the extensive collection of art shown all over a renovated factory space in the 798 Art District.

Most memorable was Xu Bing's A Book from the Sky, featuring long scrolls suspended in the air, and numerous "ancient" books opened up to reveal a made up of 4,000 invented characters. They cannot be decoded, which raises fundamental questions about the Chinese identity and its relationship to the written word. 

The exhibition was fantastical with paintings, sculptures, installations, videos. One involved visitors going on a slide and seeing psychedelic colours along the way.

It was all quite a surprise to see this Belgian couple just open a museum in China, and not surprisingly it went through a lot of financial problems. Ten years later they sold the museum to a group of investors. They could have just sold the artwork at auction, but perhaps felt it best to keep the museum going if possible.

The museum is in a former Beijing factory space

Philip Tinari, the UCCA director released a statement on Thursday:

"The vision and passion of Myriam Ullens -- her love for art, belief in cultural exchange and commitment to helping others -- are at the core of UCCA's history and values. We are shocked and saddened by her death, and will remember her strength, style, creativity and generosity as we carry forward the work of the institution that she and Guy so generously founded and nurtured through its first decade."

She was born in Cologne, Germany, and worked in the food industry before marrying Guy in 1999, a Belgian businessman and baron. She had a fashion brand and had philanthropic interests.

Nicolas Ullens was apparently a former Belgian state security agent and is one of Guy Ullens' four children.