Given the global clamour for Chinese contemporary art collections, exhibitions and artist residencies – and the soaring prices being paid for Chinese art at auctions worldwide – the inaugural ShContemporary Art Fair is eagerly anticipated.

In China, Shanghai and Beijing have led the way in developing contemporary art scenes, and both have established high-profile art districts, notably M50 in Shanghai and Dashanzhi in Beijing. In both cities, contemporary art galleries are opening with almost the same mind-bending frequency as new banks, boutique hotels and luxury brand outlets. Thriving art districts are, however, also developing in other Chinese cities, notably at Tank Loft in Chongqing, and are nurturing the creative, expressive and increasingly bold visions of young Chinese artists. 

While much of the work by China’s emerging art class is often criticised as being overly commercial, and the photographic-based collections occasionally labelled as “PhotoShop Art,” a new generation of expressive Chinese artists is beginning to stamp its imprint on the global creative consciousness.

Focusing on high quality and exclusive contemporary art, the ShContemporary show – to be held at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre from 6 to 9 September – will showcase leading galleries from across the world, plus two unique curator-selected sectors: Best of Artists and Best of Discovery. Here are more details, supplied by Bologna Fiere, the event organiser.

Asia’s New Role

The contemporary art world used to be easy to navigate: there was the good art – there was the bad; there was the west – and there was the rest of the world.  This climate is changing, rapidly.  Booming cities like Shanghai and Beijing are urban metaphors for the truly tectonic shifts in the broader cultural, economic and political landscapes.  But China is only the tip of the iceberg.  Asia includes over 50 countries, from the Middle East to the Pacific islands. It is home to three quarters of the world’s population, myriad languages and cultures, all four of the world’s major religions and countless local faiths, plus strong expanding economies – and high quality, interesting contemporary artists. 

Ten years ago, many Asian artists were compelled to emigrate to the west because the political and cultural restrictions in their own countries were too great.  Now, due to the social liberalisation in large sections of Asia, active and exciting art scenes have developed throughout the region.  Art academies, biennials, contemporary art museums, art centres and art galleries are emerging across Asia. These new art scenes, in combination with the explosive growth among the wealthy local upper and middle classes produce new collectors and new demands.  And, countries like China and India are establishing their own scenes where a global taste is being forged.

Contemporary Art on Show

ShContemporary is a necessary response to this development. The Asian continent represents the globalisation of art, but not of the art market. Throughout Asia, there are artists who have their own geographical and cultural roots, but who thanks to modern media are also well informed about what’s occurring in the world, including art. 

At the same time, we have an international art market that is totally focused on the United States and Europe. It is long overdue that Asia has its own international top art fair, one that offers contemporary Asian art and its artists a necessary and merited opening to the international art market and enables Asian galleries an opportunity to present themselves to collectors and media worldwide.

ShContemporary will include 125 invited galleries from around the world, each selected on the basis of projects and special presentations they have submitted.   Exhibiting galleries will show a well-balanced overview of the most interesting contemporary creativity, with a special focus on Asian contemporary art. The fair focuses on a strong and deliberate positioning of Asia in the international market, creating an exclusive market platform devoted to the very best that Asian contemporary creativity is offering. 

Curator-selected Sales Exhibitions

Best of Artists – presents artists epresenting all generations and trends in Asia’s artistic scenes, whose vision and discourse are of historical significance:

China: Ai Weiwei, Chen Shaoxiong, Chen Zhen, Fang Lijun, Gu Dexin, Lu Hao, Song Dong, Wang Du, Wang Guangyi, Zhang Peili

India: Zarina Hashmi, Jitish Kallat, Sudarshan Shetty

Japan: Tatsuo Miyajima, Yoshitomo Nara

Thailand: Rikrit Tiravanija

Best of Discovery – is a photograph and inventory of the creations by a new generation of Asian artists, positioning them into the realm of the global contemporary art system:

Afghanistan: Lida Abdul

China: Jiang Zhi, Qiu Xiaofei, Li Yongbin

India: Shilpa Gupta, Ravikumar Kashi, Sharmila Samant

Japan: Yayoi Deki, Enlightenment Group, Ruriko Murayama, Kohei Nawa

Korea: flyingCity, Ham Jin

Pakistan: Mohammad Ali, Sophie Ernst, Rashid Rana

Russia: Serguey Bugaev-Afrika, Aleksandr Schumow

Taiwan: Chen Ching-Yao, Tu Weicheng

For more information on ShContemporary, visit: www.shcontemporary.info

Last update : Wednesday, 29 August 2007

Keywords : Chinese Contemporary Art, ShContemporary, Art Fair

Average user rating

   (0 vote)