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Through the looking glass of culture, we see ourselves clearly
By Fei Lai |
April 27, 2013, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
GOOD-BYE to stuffy public museums, where solemn interiors often scare people away from art appreciation. A privately owned gallery in Minhang is a trend-setter in bringing culture and people closer together. Fei Lai visits.
Meibo Art Gallery, the first privately owned art gallery in Minhang, has proven to be a hit with the public since it opened last October. More than 20,000 visitors have crossed its threshold.
The gallery, located on Liming Road, has eight exhibition halls and amenities such as a teahouse and restaurant.
It is owned and operated by Shanghai Li'an Culture & Art Co. Chairman Chen Hui said his main motivation is neither profit nor fame.
"We want to stir public interest in art and popularize it among average people," Chen said.
Unlike public art museums, which can sometimes be so lofty that they are intimidating, the Meibo Art Gallery puts on no airs. Its informality invites visitors to come in, browse and experience art on their own terms. There is no entry fee.
About 200 pictures are on exhibit, with familiar scenes of mountains, rivers, birds and flowers. Sculptures adorn the corridors.
The most recent exhibition, which ended on April 17, displayed 160 calendars from Old Shanghai. They dated back to the 1920s and 1930s, and were drawn from archives across the city. The exhibition attracted more than 1,000 visitors.
Meibo is keen to cultivate local artists by providing modest subsidies and the chance to display their works.
An increasing number of new artists are holding exhibitions in the art gallery. The exhibition calendar is full through the end of August.
Zhu Guorong, vice chairman of Shanghai Artists Association, praised the Meibo as a forward-looking institution, deeply rooted in the idea of the "people's art."
The Minhang government has provided some funding for the gallery, though its administration is privately financed.
Chen personifies the essence of the gallery.
In 2008, he helped financed a book series called "Art Expo." A year later, he founded Li'an and then developed his dream for creating the Meibo Art Gallery.
"The idea of a privately owned art gallery draws on overseas experience," Chen said. "To make money, such a gallery has to find favor with the public. Rather than depending on ticket sales, the gallery finances itself by selling artworks by local residents."
The architecture for the gallery and its support facilities came from US designers, Chen said.
The spirit of the gallery is spilling out into the street, if Chen has his way.
He said he wants to turn adjacent Xiuwen and Liming roads into a "cultural street," drawing on the theme of art.
"I just had this idea," he said. "Amid the hustle and bustle of the city, we need a tranquil place to commune with art."
Wu Hong, a visiting professor from Chicago University in the US, said private art galleries have become an integral part of the art scene in major cities around the world.
"They combine entertainment with education and knowledge," he said. "Visitors to an art gallery can learn much about history and the arts. These galleries become favorite tourist destinations, providing commercial value in a modern city."
Wu said the success of such an art gallery depends on how it is operated.
According to Chen Shenglai, director of the Literature Department at the Shanghai Academy of Social Science, a private gallery needs to operate on a self-sustaining basis.
"It should not rely on government subsidies," he said. "Neither should it be blatantly profit-oriented. Private donors can be sought to help provide resources."
The government can help by giving private galleries concessions on taxes and property development, he added.
Top 5 cultural attractions in Minhang
Classic sites:
1. Qibao Ancient Street
Address: between Qixin Rd and Xinzhen Rd
2. Jinjiang Amusement Park
Address: 201 Hongmei Rd
3. Laowai Street
Address: 3338 Lane Hongmei Rd to 797 Hongxu Rd
4. Old Wisteria Park
Address: 148 Lincang Rd
5. Xinzhuang Park
Address: 421 Xinbin Rd
Emerging sites:
1. Minhang Cultural Park
Address: 2019 Wuzhong Rd
2. Shanghai Jiao Tong University Minhang Campus
Address: 800 Dongchuan Rd
3. Museum of Hanlin Inscription Boards
Address: 731 Hongxu Rd
4. Old Minhang History and Culture Exhibition Museum
Address: 366 Heqing Rd
5. Hongqiao Antique Store
Address: 528 Jinhui Rd
Meibo Art Gallery, the first privately owned art gallery in Minhang, has proven to be a hit with the public since it opened last October. More than 20,000 visitors have crossed its threshold.
The gallery, located on Liming Road, has eight exhibition halls and amenities such as a teahouse and restaurant.
It is owned and operated by Shanghai Li'an Culture & Art Co. Chairman Chen Hui said his main motivation is neither profit nor fame.
"We want to stir public interest in art and popularize it among average people," Chen said.
Unlike public art museums, which can sometimes be so lofty that they are intimidating, the Meibo Art Gallery puts on no airs. Its informality invites visitors to come in, browse and experience art on their own terms. There is no entry fee.
About 200 pictures are on exhibit, with familiar scenes of mountains, rivers, birds and flowers. Sculptures adorn the corridors.
The most recent exhibition, which ended on April 17, displayed 160 calendars from Old Shanghai. They dated back to the 1920s and 1930s, and were drawn from archives across the city. The exhibition attracted more than 1,000 visitors.
Meibo is keen to cultivate local artists by providing modest subsidies and the chance to display their works.
An increasing number of new artists are holding exhibitions in the art gallery. The exhibition calendar is full through the end of August.
Zhu Guorong, vice chairman of Shanghai Artists Association, praised the Meibo as a forward-looking institution, deeply rooted in the idea of the "people's art."
The Minhang government has provided some funding for the gallery, though its administration is privately financed.
Chen personifies the essence of the gallery.
In 2008, he helped financed a book series called "Art Expo." A year later, he founded Li'an and then developed his dream for creating the Meibo Art Gallery.
"The idea of a privately owned art gallery draws on overseas experience," Chen said. "To make money, such a gallery has to find favor with the public. Rather than depending on ticket sales, the gallery finances itself by selling artworks by local residents."
The architecture for the gallery and its support facilities came from US designers, Chen said.
The spirit of the gallery is spilling out into the street, if Chen has his way.
He said he wants to turn adjacent Xiuwen and Liming roads into a "cultural street," drawing on the theme of art.
"I just had this idea," he said. "Amid the hustle and bustle of the city, we need a tranquil place to commune with art."
Wu Hong, a visiting professor from Chicago University in the US, said private art galleries have become an integral part of the art scene in major cities around the world.
"They combine entertainment with education and knowledge," he said. "Visitors to an art gallery can learn much about history and the arts. These galleries become favorite tourist destinations, providing commercial value in a modern city."
Wu said the success of such an art gallery depends on how it is operated.
According to Chen Shenglai, director of the Literature Department at the Shanghai Academy of Social Science, a private gallery needs to operate on a self-sustaining basis.
"It should not rely on government subsidies," he said. "Neither should it be blatantly profit-oriented. Private donors can be sought to help provide resources."
The government can help by giving private galleries concessions on taxes and property development, he added.
Top 5 cultural attractions in Minhang
Classic sites:
1. Qibao Ancient Street
Address: between Qixin Rd and Xinzhen Rd
2. Jinjiang Amusement Park
Address: 201 Hongmei Rd
3. Laowai Street
Address: 3338 Lane Hongmei Rd to 797 Hongxu Rd
4. Old Wisteria Park
Address: 148 Lincang Rd
5. Xinzhuang Park
Address: 421 Xinbin Rd
Emerging sites:
1. Minhang Cultural Park
Address: 2019 Wuzhong Rd
2. Shanghai Jiao Tong University Minhang Campus
Address: 800 Dongchuan Rd
3. Museum of Hanlin Inscription Boards
Address: 731 Hongxu Rd
4. Old Minhang History and Culture Exhibition Museum
Address: 366 Heqing Rd
5. Hongqiao Antique Store
Address: 528 Jinhui Rd
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