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Visual artist exhibits perfect timing
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THE timing is perfect for Yang Fudong to hold a solo exhibition, as China’s leading visual artist just broke a record when one of his photos sold for 1.2 million yuan (US$192,000) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong last month.
The exhibition centers on Yang’s latest piece, titled “New Women,” a five-channel video installation.
The work is inspired by the decadent atmosphere of 1920s and 1930s Shanghai, a period that has been captured in some of the best-loved Chinese films and remains influential among Chinese artists.
“The Chinese movies of the 1930s were mostly storytelling, focusing on the dark side of society and the fate of small potatoes,” Yang said. “The same goes for contemporary movies, but the latter produces different types of industrial image products, and merely for the purpose to consume our feelings. This video is a tribute to nascent Chinese films, and it’s also a depiction of the perfect woman image in every person’s heart.”
“New Women” features five women with their hair tied in buns and made up to resemble early Chinese film stars, but they are no longer the fragile women from the 1930s “old East-meets-new-West” films.
Mature and charming
The performers are dressed in different styles that suggest different times. They look mature and charming, collected yet innocent, and stare off in different directions with emotions looming in their eyes under various backdrops — beside a plum blossom or a man-made Roman column.
Born in 1971 in Beijing, Yang graduated from the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou in 1995. Today Yang is one of China’s best-known contemporary artists, having gained a major international reputation for his films and video compilations.
Yang is noted for his black-and-white videos.
“I am always asked why I shoot in black and white,” he says. “For me, black and white stands for time, and a distance that’s impossible to be determined. This allows the viewers to inspect the film.”
“Of course, there is another hypocritical argument, black and white is actually very rich in color,” Yang says. “Some even comment the attribution of the media I use is ‘out of context.’ In my eyes, moments of uncertainty and incidents are regarded as destiny. It involves God’s decision. It is a bit idealistic, but it is also deeply ingrained in the change of each person’s life.”
Date: Through June 16, 11am-7pm, closed on Mondays
Venue: ShanghART H-Space, Bldg 18, 50 Moganshan Rd
Italian Chamber Ensemble
The Italian chamber ensemble Ars Trio di Roma will be performing works by Rachmaninoff, Piazzolla, and Beethoven at their concert in Shanghai. Rachmaninoff’s “Trio elegiaque No.1 in G Minor” consists of only one movement in the classical form of sonata and shows the composer’s virtuosic talent and ability to cover a variety range of sound colors.
Date: May 25, 7:30pm
Tickets: 80 yuan
Tel: 5415-8976
Venue: Shanghai City Theater
Address: 4889 Dushi Rd
Heavenly Harmony
The chorus concert of The Little Singers of Paris is another event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations. One of the top three boys choir of the world, the group is set to present a variety of songs which include classical, French chansons, folk songs of the world. During their China tour, the little artists will perform well-known ballads, film songs as well as Chinese works.
Date: June 2, 7:30pm
Tickets: 80-580 yuan
Tel: 5415-8976
Venue: Shanghai City Theater
Address: 4889 Dushi Rd
Piano Recital
Belgian-born pianist Steven Vanhauwaert will present local people a piano recital. The pianist has garnered a wide array of accolades, including the Maurice Lefranc award, the Rotary Prize and the Galiot Prize.
Date: June 13, 7:30pm
Tickets: 80 yuan
Tel: 5415-8976
Venue: Shanghai City Theater
Address: 4889 Dushi Rd
Cello and Piano
Cellist Joris van den Berg and pianist Martijn Willers, will give a concert in Shanghai to impress local audience with a musical and personal dialogue between the two. The duo are widely acclaimed for its sincere and intense performances of the cello and piano repertoire.
Date: June 20, 7:30pm
Tickets: 80 yuan
Tel: 5415-8976
Venue: Shanghai City Theater
Address: 4889 Dushi Rd
Event
Contemporary Austria
The young, witty and vivid face of contemporary Austria will be showcased during the “Austrian Days 2014: Austria — Surprisingly Contemporary” to be held from tomorrow through Sunday in Shanghai. It aims to impress local people with a modern touch of the central European country long known as the land of Mozart and Sisi. Lectures on Austria in China and Austrian literature, as well as Austrian short films and an exhibition of Birgit Petri will be held. All activities are free to the public except the Austrian brunch on Sunday.
Date: May 22-25
Admission: Free (except the Austrian Branch at 10pm on May 25)
Venue: Fudan University, University of Shanghai Science and Technology
Address: 220 Handan Rd; 516 Jungong Rd
220516
Exhibition
‘Scent Of Women’
Contemporary artist Li Li will showcase her latest collection “Scent of Women” in the town. With her successful signature cartoonish image, Li brings a vivid vision of modern women in their different characters, moods and styles in daily life in oil paintings and sculpture works.
Date: Through May 23, 1-9pm
Tel: 6431-9442
Venue: Noeli Gallery
Address: 150B Yueyang Rd
‘History, Custom’
A retrospective exhibition of canvas works by Li Shuji is on display. Li won his overnight fame through a series of depictions of Chinese heroes. But after he moved to Singapore, he started to focus on the minority ethnic subject and exotic landscapes.
Date: Through June 5,
9:30am-5pm
Admission: 50 yuan
Venue: Long Museum
Address: 210, Lane 2255, Luoshan Rd, Puding New Area
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