Art aficionados are spoilt for choice this month with exhibitions aplenty and a plethora of events, lectures and conferences to savor. One of the highlights is undoubtedly ShContemporary which opens to the public at the .
Now two years into director Colin Chinnery's tenure, the fair combines curated artistic quality with commercial buzz, and judging by the frequent pops of champagne corks at ShContemporary's preview, dealers and gallerists are clearly anticipating success.
The fair comprises two main sections: Discoveries and Best of Galleries, as well as a small exhibition dedicated to Italian artist Giorgio Morandi. Discoveries: Re-Value is a group exhibition that examines different notions of value, in all its guises. Given its context as an integral part of Shanghai鈥檚 largest contemporary art fair, it raises some interesting questions about how we assign artistic and monetary value to art.
Rammey Ramsey鈥檚 striking aboriginal paintings point to globalization and a widening appreciation of different artistic traditions as influencing value, whilst Jiao Yingqi experiments with new Chinese characters to express the unprecedented concerns and values of contemporary society. Also in this section is an art project by children from Henan, Sichuan and Taiwan, the sale of which goes towards building homes for the elderly. Value again, and a worthy one at that (the children鈥檚 clay pandas, by the way, are adorable, and dare I say it, a welcome respite from loftier works)
Best of Galleries is the commercial side of the fair: a wonderland of 83 galleries representing some 400 artists. The focus is still predominantly and inevitably Asia, but there鈥檚 also big names from Europe and the US. The caliber of work is generally high, and as well as up and coming artists, established luminaries also get a look in: abstract impressionist Zao Wou-Ki (J. Bastien Art, Stand W17), Li Chen鈥檚 fleshy bronze sculptures (Asia Art Centre, Stand W09), Yue Minjun鈥檚 widely imitated eerily frozen laughing faces (Gallery Artside, Stand E21) and iconic British sculptor Anthony Gormley (Galleria Continua, Stand W23) to name a few.
From weird to wonderful, gory to gaudy, it's all there. Not to be outdone by the Porsche parked proudly in the Dome area, Art Issue Projects somehow managed to transport a Lamborghini made of coal to their stand (E39 鈥� well worth a look). Priced at a cool 15,000,000rmb, Peng Hung Chih's sculpture is certainly a crowd-pleaser. Or there are Lee Sun-Don's (X Power Gallery, Stand M11) somewhat garish creations, fashioned out of Ferrari engines, sparkly red hearts and coke cans, each with a gold skeleton perched atop.
The Shanghai gallery scene is there in force, and at stand E24 is particularly impressive, especially Shi Yong's beautiful light box series of the very tips of the city's most iconic buildings.
ShContemporary is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday (11am until 5pm and 6pm respectively), and tickets are an eminently reasonable 50rmb. Given the quantity, quality and sheer range of art on display, it鈥檚 an eminently affordable delight for Shanghai's art lovers, and one that should not be missed.
Words by Frances Arnold; Pictures by SmSh. for event information for the ShContemporary.
Click HERE for 2010 SHContemporary picture gallery
Create a new List