A recurring look at what's happening at Shanghai's art galleries:
1. Lu Pingyuan: On Kawara
Shanghai-based artist Lu Pingyuan pays tribute to the Japanese-born, New York-based conceptual legend On Kawara, whose existentialist work explored the intricacies of measuring time. From 1966’s, Kawara’s Today series would have the artist attempt to create a new work with the date stamped on it. When unsuccessful, the piece would be scrapped, creating a series that captured the intersection of life and existence in time. While Kawara passed away in 2014, Lu began his own version of the Today series at the end of that year. Opens on January 8 at 4pm.
> Jan 8-Feb 22. MadeIn, 4/F, Bldg 7, 50, Moganshan Lu, by Xi Suzhou Lu, 莫干山路50号7号楼4楼 (6070 9563)
2. Impermanent Sceneries
Art + Shanghai’s first exhibition of 2016 features three young Chinese artists exploring China’s ever changing cities. Chongqing-based Hu Weiqi’s works (see above) are “chock full of images and eye-catching headlines that are devoid of actual stories,” Beijing-born Zhang Wenchao (see cover image) comments on the constant evolution of cities by creating fictionalized versions akin to video games, while Beijing-based Sun Yu explores the changes of Shanghai’s Da Shijie amusement part since its construction in 1917.
> Jan 8-Feb 28. Art +.
3. Trans-Design: 2016 Shanghai Art & Design
This art festival explores the possibilities for future design amid relatively obscure phenomena. The exhibition is divided between four sections - Fusion Power, New Genes, Ideas in Action and Future(s) by Design. Curated by Ding Yi, the ehibition explores the evolution of design while hinting at its untapped power in influencing the future.
> Jan 10-Mar 15. West Bund Art & Design Center.
4. Leng Hong
The Shanghai born artist was the youngest painter admitted into the China National Academy of Painting after the Cultural Revolution. Immersed in traditional Chinese painting, Leng moved to France and Canada in 1986 where his creations synthesized new Western influences with his traditional style. He’s since exhibited around the world and splits his time between Montreal and Shanghai. This exhibition illustrates Leng’s favorite themes of landscape, nature, still life and figures from classical Chinese poetry.
> Until Jan 17. ArtCN Gallery, see event listing.
5. Christopher Taylor: Steinholt
The zoologist-turned-photographer celebrates the Icelandic fishing village of Þórshöfn through the prism of his wife’s grandparents' small house by the sea that they named ‘Steinholt.’ This exhibition retraces the movement of his wife’s ancestors as they moved from farm to farm in search of work, while also celebrating the rugged beauty of a remote and unheralded region in Iceland.
> Until Jan 29. OFOTO.
6. Ma Hongjie: Monkey Pilgrim
It’s just a few weeks away from the Year of the Monkey and Tianzifang based Beaugeste Gallery hosts this stunning show by Ma Honjie. From 2002 to 2014, he followed a group of monkey trainers as they traveled across the country peddling a centuries-old tradition threatened by China’s normalization. Monkey Pilgrim captures the last days of a dying craft while unflinchingly portraying these street performers/trainers as they travelled across the country peddling a trade increasingly looked down upon.
> Until Mar 31. Beaugeste Gallery.
> All image rights are reserved to the artists and galleries. Click here for past Pick of Six columns. For more Shanghai event guides, get them sent directly to your phone (along with restaurant reviews, giveaways and other goodies) by adding Thats_Shanghai on WeChat, liking us on Facebook or subscribing to our weekly newsletter.
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