 eginning September 6, Shanghai will host the SH Contemporary 07 Art Fair, the most anticipated art fair ever in China.
The organizers include the founders of Art Basel and Bologna Fiere, as well as the Shanghai artist Zhou Tiehai, and the city is expecting a huge international contingent of artists, collectors, art dealers, professionals, media representative and auction house officials.
For three days, there are also expected to be a crush of other exhibitions at museums around the city, panel discussions on art, and all-night parties hosted by some of the city’s movers and shakers, like Pearl Lam, the owner of Contrasts Gallery, and Zhang Lan, the owner of the South Beauty chain of restaurants. Luxury brands are also taking part, including Gucci and Hermes. There are also boat parties, dances, and other events.
The fair will not only show off Asia’s biggest galleries, but it will also host original art works by leading Chinese artists such as Ai Wei Wei and Lu Hao, and also introduce the world to newer talents, like the youngster Qiu Xiaofei, who was recently profiled at: :http://new.artzinechina.com/display_vol_aid268_en.html
For those looking beyond China, the fair will also host artists, over 120 galleries and collectors from other parts of Asia, such as Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India and Pakistan, and also introduce the people of Asia to some of the world’s biggest galleries, such as Galerie Urs Meile, PKM Gallery of Korea, Sumukha in India, Japan’s Hiromi Yoshii and the Jean-Gabriel Mitterand Gallery of France.
The selection of Shanghai was somewhat natural. The city may trail Beijing as the country’s artistic and cultural center, but it is unrivaled as a business center and its M50 arts district is booming, and major artists are now based here, such as Zhang Huan, Yang Fudong, Zhou Tiehai, Gu Wenda, Qiu Anxiong, Ding Yi, Xue Song, Xiang Jing and Zheng Zaidong.
Here’s a brief guide to what’s happening.
WHO: Some of world’s biggest galleries and undoubtedly, China’s best known artists, dealers and arts enthusiasts are converging on Shanghai for the Sh Contemporary 07. Artists like Ai Wei Wei will be in town, and so will collectors such as Guan Yi, meeting up with Shanghai’s best and brightest artists and galleries, such as Zhou Tiehai, Weng Ling of the Shanghai Gallery of Art and Lorenz Helbling of the ShanghArt Gallery. The fair was co-organized by Lorenzo Rudolf and Pierre Huber, distinguished European curators.
WHAT: The biggest art fair ever to hit Shanghai, brought to you by the Shanghai artist Zhou Tiehai and the founders of Art Basel and Bologna Fiere, as well as the Italian Trade Commission.
WHEN: September 6-9. The Sh Contemporary will host an invitation only opening ceremony on Wednesday, September 5, then two VIP days, September 6 and 7; then the fair will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, September 8 and 9.
WHERE: The Shanghai Exhibition Center at 1000 Yan’an Zhong Road, right in downtown Shanghai, across from Shanghai Center and the Ritz Carlton Hotel. More information at www.shcontemporary.info.
OTHER VENUES: The Shanghai Gallery of Art, ShanghArt, Zendai Museum, Contrasts Gallery, Moca, the Shangai Art Museum and just about every other museum and gallery around Shanghai are hosting their own special shows and events to take advantage of the huge international crowds expected to be on hand for the fair, easily the biggest group since last year’s Shanghai Biennale.
THE LUCKY FEW: Will get to join a series of parties and gatherings throughout the week. Pearl Lam, the owner of the Contrast Gallery, is hosting several bashes at her dynamic and quite eccentric home, where there will be a dinner and dance performance on Thursday evening; and the Shanghai Gallery of Art and other artists are also expected to be throwing parties. But we can’t really reveal where they are. It’s a secret.
COOL DIGS: For those new to Shanghai, the city offers a variety of cool places to see and hang out at, the city’s must-see for the wealthy, artistic and ultimately cool crowd. Here’s a few: Three on the Bund, a must see not only for the Shanghai Gallery of Art, but for the famous building’s other floors of restaurants and cool hangouts. Get a night-time view of the Bund area and Pudong’s dramatic skyline. Also, the Glamour Bar, across the Street, is the city’s coolest and hippest bar, though mostly for foreign crowds.
Here’s a list of other hot spots around the city.
 JZ Club, the city’s coolest jazz hangout. Cui Jian even played there, but usually it’s cool jazz. Located at 46 West Fuxing Road, phone: 6431.0269.
 Face, a perennial favorite among foreigners for it’s cool setting, Chinese and Asian antiques and mixture of Indian and Thai food, along with a hip bar and lounge area. 118 Ruijin 2 Road, Building 4, 6415.8913.
 Coconut Paradise, a Thai restaurant set in an old, converted house near Yan’an Road. This is one of the city’s better restaurant settings. 38 Fumin Lu at Julu Road, phone: 6248.1998.
 The Door, if you’re looking for some traditional Chinese music, updated with a modern twist and also love antiques also made to look modernist, catch the Door, particularly after 9 pm, for a good show and fine drink. 1468 Hongqiao Road, 3rd floor, phone: 6295.3737.
 DaMarco, for those who just have to eat Italian, this is one of the best Italian restaurants in China. 103 Dongzhu’anbang Road, between Zhenning Road and Jiangsu Road, phone: 6210 4495.
 Dake Town Teahouse, if you want some tea in an old Shanghai house that used to be the home of a famous writer. Great setting, quiet and largely unknown to people in the city. At No. 25, Lane 388, Xiangyang Road, phone: 6467.6577
 Kathyrn Scott’s Place, a new wine bar is opening at an old house renovated by the American designer Kathryn Scott, the wife of Shanghai born artist Gu Wenda. It’s located at 57 Jiangyin Road, near Huangpi Road. The wine tasting club may not be open yet, but this place is worth a visit. A stunning updating on an old house that sits behind the Marriott Hotel.
 Xintiandi, For those who are more touristy, no stop in Shanghai is complete without a visit to Xintiandi, the popular district that was created by renovating old Shikumen style homes and adding lots of bars, restaurants and shops.
Moganshan Lu, or M50: When you’re ready to see Shanghai’s booming arts district, get to M50, home to the city’s best-known galleries, such as ShanghArt, BizArt, ArtScene Warehouse, and also the studios of artists such as Xue Song, Zhou Tiehai and Ding Yi. TimeZone8 now has a bookstore café there. And there’s also lots of cheap, bad art stuffed in the area now, as everyone tries to capitalize on the art boom. But hidden away are some of the top artists in the area and also perhaps the city’s most powerful gallery, ShanghArt, run by the Swiss-born director Lorenz Helbling, who represents Wang Guangyi, Yang Fudong, Ding Yi and lots of other artists. See ArtZineChina.com article about M50 at: http://www.new.artzinechina.com/display_vol_aid81_en.html
Shopping: A tip, Spin Ceramics has some of the hippest vases and ceramic designs around. They have a little show room at 758 Julu Road, Building 3, phone: 6279 2545.
SPECIAL VIP EVENTS DURING SH CONTEMPORARY WEEK
Below is a schedule of Special Events for the SH Contemporary. (all require VIP card or special invitation)
Tuesday, Sept. 4: Liang Shaoji solo show at the ShanghArt Gallery, 6.pm, Moganshan Lu.
7 P.M. Pierre Huber Prize for new media students at BizArt, 50 Moganshan Lu
9 P.M.-Midnight: Party for Pierre Huber and announcement for the Silk Road Collection, Glamour Bar, No. 5 on the Bund.
9 P.M. South Beauty Art event, No. 881 Yan An Zhong Road
Wednesday, Sept. 5: 2 P.M. Yibo Gallery, Lijin solo show, 198 Huan Yuan Shi Qiao Road, Pudong
3 P.M. Lines -- Chinese Abstract Art, Creek Art, Chang An Road, behind 423 Guangfu Roaad
4-7 P.M. Contrasts Gallery Rewind, Remix Fastforward vermissage, Jiangxi Road, 181
6 P.M. SH Contemporary Preview at Shanghai Exhibition Centre
8 P.M. SH Contemporary official opening, ribbon cutting, Shanghai Exhibition Centre
10:30 P.M. Official SH Contemporary Party at Mundo Latino, 2F, 500 ZhongShang DongYi Lu, Park Bund
Private Party, Pearl Lam’s.
Thursday, Sept. 6: 4 P.M. “New Interface” exhibition, Liu Haisu Art Museum, 1660 Hongqiao Road
5 P.M. Shanghai Gallery of Art, Three on the Bund, Liu Jianhua solo show, 21 Guangdong Road
6 P.M. Contrasts Gallery: the Essence of Chinese Sensibilities Design Exhibition, Sichuan Zhong Road, 133, 5th floor
6 P.M. Red Bridge Gallery, Lou Shenyi solo show, 1426 Hongqiao Road
6 P.M. DDM Gallery Exhibition reception, 713 Dong Da Ming Road
7 P.M. Zendai Museum Yang Qian Qu Guangci solo show reception, No. 28, 199 Fangdian Road
7 P.M. Three on the Bund dinner, Shanghai Gallery of Art, hosted by Weng Ling
10 P.M. Beijing Art Now, Rock & Roll party with Second Hand Rose, 4 Live Music Bar, Building No. 7, 8 Jiangguao Zhong Lu.
Friday, Sept. 7: 10:30 A.M. Art Asia Pacific Museum panel discussion, “Self Made: The Artists Behind Contemporary Art in Asia,” at the restaurant West Wing, 2nd floor in SH Contemporary
3-5 P.M. A Runaway Zero show opening at CANS Bookshop 1F WuJiao Chang 800 building Guoshun Dong Road
6 P.M. Contrasts Gallery “Liang Juhui” Memorial Exhibition, 500 Ruijin Nan Road
7 P.M. Hermes Art show “The Tale of Silk” at Shanghai Art Museum reception area.
8 P.M. Boat party, Universal Studios
Saturday, Sept. 8: 10:30 A.M. Asia Society Panel discussion, “Who’s Afraid of Chinese Contemporary Art?” West Wing, 2d floor, SH Contemporary
2 P.M. Special visit to Shanghai Museum underground treasure room
6 P.M. Rejected Collection Ke Center for Contemporary Arts, 613 Kai Xuan Road
8 P.M. Special VIP dinner at Pearl Lam’s.
Sunday, Sept. 9: Free access Shanghai Art Museum, Moca, Zendai Museum and Duolun Museum
Yang Qian Solo show; “Qu Guangci” solo show in Zendai Museum.
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