During her visit to the 798 Factory art space last Saturday, European Union Commissioner for Education and Cultural Affairs Viviane Reding talked with Wang Wenhai, a retired curator of the Yan’an Revolutionary Memorial and amateur artist who has created hundreds of statues of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong.Reding visited several commercial galleries and artists’ studios in the factory area and spoke highly of the innovative center.“I’m impressed by these artistic works’ connection with reality. And I have never seen a working factory where artists coexist and cerate with workers,” commented Reding. “It’s a space of freedom and creativity, which is a wonderful thing to have in this cityLocated in the Dashanzi area northeast of downtown in Chaoyang District, the 798 Factory used to be a state-owned facility, but in the past couple years has developed into a Soho-like area, bringing together contemporary art, architecture, and culture in a historically interesting setting.