Popular expat street stages unique art festival
Print Edition
One of the most popular expat streets in Shanghai has ambience down to a fine art. It’s all happening now on Laowaijie, or Foreigners Street, in the Minhang District.
Welcome to the first Laowaijie Art Festival, which began November 24 and runs until Christmas Day. The event provides a lavish display of photography, crafts and paintings from almost 100 international artists, including Germans, Americans, British, French and Japanese. The festival also spans theater, art auctions and fashion.
Laowaijie 101 used to be called Hongmei walkway until three years ago, when the name was changed to reflect the street’s particular character.
Laowai means “foreigner” in Chinese. Though some foreigners initially considered the word a bit pejorative, it has come into the popular vernacular as a somewhat benign and even endearing term.
“It’s actually a more brotherly way of referring to expats.” said Zhang Wucai, who has been involved in development of the street. “Shanghai people open their arms to laowai. We love them in this city.”
Gathering place of foreigners
The 480-meter-long street was created 11 years ago, rapidly attracting businesses catering to a growing number of expats living in Minhang. It now boasts more than 30 restaurants and bars, many reflecting cuisines from around the world, from Persian to Mexican.
The street has become a popular place to hang out, meet friends, spend a lazy Sunday afternoon or encourage a bit of romance.
International bands and dancers often perform along the street.
The curator of the festival, Yang Qingqing, a Chinese contemporary artist living in France, said she was inspired by the melting-pot ambience of the area.
“The theme of this first Laowaijie Art Festival can be expressed by the Chinese term wai zhuan nei xiao, which literally means the domestic sale of goods originally produced for export,” Yang said. “It provides an excellent venue for the commerce of adapting art to public surroundings.”
The theme of the festival, she said, is “domestic inspiration and international expression.”
The opening performance was staged by the rock band Top Floor Circus, one of the oldest Shanghai-based bands, which has been around for more than 10 years.
The band’s performance drew praise.
“Top Floor Circus was singing in Shanghai dialect on the stage, while in the audience, people were reacting to the performance in a multitude of languages,” said Sophie Cheung, a Hong Kong native who has been living in Shanghai for five years. “The contrast was so amazing and so exciting.”
Blending commerce and art
The festival blends commerce and the daily lives of people in contemporary tones.
“Exploring the interactive connection between art and urban commerce, and how it all ties into how people live every day is the purpose of this festival,” Yang said.
Scholar Ma Qinzhong, who hosted the opening ceremony of the festival, cited the pleasure of dining together, meeting together and sharing leisure time together as the mission of Laowaijie’s future development.
“The art festival creates a new realm full of imagination, creativity and curiosity,” he said. “It instills in us the desire to embrace cultural activities.”
Exhibitions at the art festival are free of charge. Organizers said they want to attract people from across Shanghai and visitors from around the world.
“We would like to make the Laowaijie Art Festival a true and enduring community celebration,” said Zhang Yajiang, one of the organizers.
Zhang said he embraced Yang’s idea to hold such a festival immediately when it was proposed.
The Christmas holiday season, which carries significance for many Westerners, is an ideal time to stage such an event. Bars and restaurants on Laowaijie are always busier than usual. “The Laowaijie Art Festival provides us a new channel to do business on the street, giving a real boost of spirit to commerce and to patrons,” Zhang added.
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