Artists brush up on city life
By Victoria Fei |
May 8, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TEN contemporary Chinese artists are displaying works with an urban theme at Shanghai 800 Art Zone in Yangpu District.
The exhibition "Masters: Ten Cases in Chinese Contemporary Art" runs through May 30 and picks up on the Expo's urban theme of "Better City, Better Life." Each artist has as much as 800 square meters of exhibition space.
The show features oil paintings, inks and photography representing a fresh understanding of cities and city dwellers.
"A focus on real urban life has been a core issue in contemporary art across the world, and Chinese art is no exception," says Han Weihua, the exhibition's curator.
"Art is a common language understood around the world. When our artists add Chinese aesthetics spontaneously while creating, they achieve astonishing works."
Cities inspire artists who develop the aesthetics of their time, he says.
Li Xiaoxuan, a famous traditional ink-wash artist, is especially focused on city life. Since the late 1980s he has been working in ink depicting neon lights, crowds of people, traffic and many aspects of urban life -- unusual themes for the traditional medium.
Yin Zhaoyang, a representative of the late 1960s and early 1970s, exhibits works under the theme "Post-industrial Civilization and the Loss of Conviction."
Huang Yan, a highly influential conceptual photographer, addresses the impact of urbanization on intellectuals, elites, ordinary people and farmers.
"Normally, contemporary artwork might not immediately catch the attention of the masses. But when we look at works of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, we see prominent marks of the times," says curator Han.
"Chinese art has a long way to go to express urban themes," says Han, adding that the influence of art on the city is reflected at the Expo.
In addition to this show, almost 100 other exhibitions will be held at Shanghai 800 Art Zone this year.
The 60,000-square-meter venue is one of the biggest cultural industry zones in the city. Yangpu District government is building it into a space for exhibitions, trade, a creative center and cultural tourism center. It has attracted 40 studios, galleries and art institutions.
Ren Guomin, art director of Shanghai 800 Art Zone, says construction will begin on a 20,000-square-meter contemporary art museum in the zone. The investment will be around 50 million yuan (US$7.3 million).
"Masters" exhibition
Date: through May 30
Venue: Shanghai 800 Art Zone, 800 Guoshun Rd E.
Tel: 5512-6636
The exhibition "Masters: Ten Cases in Chinese Contemporary Art" runs through May 30 and picks up on the Expo's urban theme of "Better City, Better Life." Each artist has as much as 800 square meters of exhibition space.
The show features oil paintings, inks and photography representing a fresh understanding of cities and city dwellers.
"A focus on real urban life has been a core issue in contemporary art across the world, and Chinese art is no exception," says Han Weihua, the exhibition's curator.
"Art is a common language understood around the world. When our artists add Chinese aesthetics spontaneously while creating, they achieve astonishing works."
Cities inspire artists who develop the aesthetics of their time, he says.
Li Xiaoxuan, a famous traditional ink-wash artist, is especially focused on city life. Since the late 1980s he has been working in ink depicting neon lights, crowds of people, traffic and many aspects of urban life -- unusual themes for the traditional medium.
Yin Zhaoyang, a representative of the late 1960s and early 1970s, exhibits works under the theme "Post-industrial Civilization and the Loss of Conviction."
Huang Yan, a highly influential conceptual photographer, addresses the impact of urbanization on intellectuals, elites, ordinary people and farmers.
"Normally, contemporary artwork might not immediately catch the attention of the masses. But when we look at works of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, we see prominent marks of the times," says curator Han.
"Chinese art has a long way to go to express urban themes," says Han, adding that the influence of art on the city is reflected at the Expo.
In addition to this show, almost 100 other exhibitions will be held at Shanghai 800 Art Zone this year.
The 60,000-square-meter venue is one of the biggest cultural industry zones in the city. Yangpu District government is building it into a space for exhibitions, trade, a creative center and cultural tourism center. It has attracted 40 studios, galleries and art institutions.
Ren Guomin, art director of Shanghai 800 Art Zone, says construction will begin on a 20,000-square-meter contemporary art museum in the zone. The investment will be around 50 million yuan (US$7.3 million).
"Masters" exhibition
Date: through May 30
Venue: Shanghai 800 Art Zone, 800 Guoshun Rd E.
Tel: 5512-6636
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