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Upcoming art and design fair packs a punch
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ZHOU Tiehai has big plans for next month’s West Bund Art & Design Fair. As an artist with an interest in trying new things, Zhou is famous for satirizing modern Chinese art.
He also is somewhat unique in the art world as he doesn’t paint his own works. Instead, he conceptualizes a piece and realizes it on a computer before handing it off to assistants to bring it to life.
Zhou is known for using the Joe Camel character from advertisements and making paintings that reference famous Western motifs from art history.
He also helped launch ShContemporary in 2007. It was described by some as the best art fair in Asia that year. Several years later, he became director of the Minsheng Art Museum.
Now Zhou begins another chapter in his career with the West Bund Art & Design Fair. He speaks with Shanghai Daily about the event to be held from September 25-29.
Q: The city already has ShContemporary and Shanghai Art Fair, how will West Bund Art & Design Fair differentiate itself from the others?
A: Every year there are many international art fairs in big cities like New York and Miami. These art fairs are very helpful in improving a city’s image and international influence. The West Bund Art & Design Fair is China’s first event fusing art with design. The idea is to show how both are important in our lives.
Q: The fair’s venue is a renovated old warehouse, did you encounter any difficulties in creating a professional venue and what is unique about this building?
A: The building was once a maintenance warehouse for the airport, covering an area of 8,000 square meters with a ceiling height of 15 meters. Considering its space, height and light, the venue is perfect for a quality art fair.
Participating galleries and design institutes can do more with the space. For example, each gallery might have nearly 140 square meters per booth. Besides the annual West Bund fair, the building will also host other art and cultural projects from time to time.
You can’t find a similar place anywhere in the city. It is downtown along the Huangpu River and traces of history can be seen in the area.
Q: As the person in charge, what is the most challenging part for you?
A: Now our team is preparing the final phase. Of course, this is challenging because time is limited, but I believe we can make it.
Q: What are the highlights of the fair?
A: Some top overseas galleries will participate including SCAI, The Bathhouse, Hauser&Wirth, Lehman Maupin and White Cube. It is also the first time sculptures created by Hans Josephsohn (1920-2012) will be seen in the city.
Josephsohn is considered one of the great sculptors in contemporary art history. The Swiss artist’s works focus on the human figure as a volume in space. From the beginning of his career he made representations of the human figure — standing, sitting, reclining — working on portrait heads or half-figures, made in plaster, then later, cast in bronze. The artist kept a low profile at his studio in Zurich. But the value of his work is now realized on the international art stage.
Q: Judging from the name of the fair, some may think it’s about the latest crossover trends in art and design.
A: No. It is still about art itself but at the same time I have added some design things. We have the same target as buyers, and art collectors are also interested in finding top design elements either to decorate their house or for their own appreciation. So why not provide both?
Q: In recent years, you have taken on a lot of different roles. What attracts you to dive into different areas?
A: I am always interested in new things, perhaps that’s why I can’t stop. Now I fully understand the position of an artist, a fair director and a curator, which broadens my way of thinking. But I will never give up the role of being an artist.
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