Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Contemporary Chinese art
China's art scene is booming, and there's no better way to experience it than with a
visit to the M50 Art District. All of Shanghai's key galleries are here, covering
everything from well-known artists to unknowns, and photography to installation. A
stroll through the area provides a free tour of Chinese contemporary art that's better
curated and more current than at any museum. With each gallery eager to educate
visitors about their offerings, it's a wonderful place for aspiring art students.
Another art enclave that is emerging on the Shanghai outskirts is Shanghart Taopu
(18 Wuwei Road; Tue-Wed, Fri-Sun 10am-6pm). Take a taxi from M50 to this
warehouse-style art museum in a distinctive red, zig-zag building offering a bright
showroom exhibiting large installation and sculpture works, a café selling art books
and products, plus an original archival room. Surrounding the gallery are several
artist workshops.
INTO THE M50 ART DISTRICT
Exit the museum and head north on Sichuan Road. Take in the splendid Art Deco facade of
the 1934
New Asia Hotel
(entrance at 422 Tiantong Road), en route to
Bridge House
on
the next block. This unassuming apartment building was the headquarters for the Kempetai
(Japanese secret police) from 1941 to 1945, and included a notorious torture chamber.
Moganshan Road; most galleries open daily 10am-6pm). The warehouses in this once-
seedy neighbourhood on the banks of Suzhou Creek once formed the backbone of Shang-
hai's industry and are now the heart of Shanghai's thriving art scene. Well-known galleries
such as ShanghART (Building 16;
www.shanghartgallery.com
;
daily 10am-6pm), which rep-
resents some of China's most sought-after artists, stand side-by-side with small boutique gal-
leries offering an eclectic range of work. Other good ones to look out for include Italian-
Chinese
Aike Gallery
(2/F, Building 1;
www.dearco.it
) which has a sister gallery in Palermo;
OV Gallery
(Room 207;
www.ovgallery.com
)
, known for its thematic exhibitions targeting
contemporary social issues in China; and
Eastlink
(5/F, Building 6;
www.eastlinkgallery.cn
),
which champions the work of China's innovative experimental artists.
Bandu Music Café
,
see
2
, is located close to the entrance/exit on Moganshan Road, and is a popular hangout
for artists and curators on account of the cool vibe and tasty homemade dumplings.
