Galleries on the go
- Source: Global Times
- [09:36 August 17 2010]
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Elizabeth de Brabant’s new art pavilion. Photo: Courtesy of 1933 Shanghai
By Nick Muzyczka
Over the last six months a number of Shanghai's prominent art galleries have decided to take on new properties, expanding current locations or opening second gallery spaces.
Elizabeth de Brabant's new art pavilion at 1933 Shanghai in Hongkou district and the recently opened Rockbund Museum on the Bund are two examples of this trend.
With the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, an obvious question to ask is whether this is a cynical move by gallery owners wishing to cash in on the influx of foreign visitors, whose proclivity for buying souvenirs may take them in the direction of the city's art districts; or whether we are seeing something more substantial; a natural process of development and an upsurge in interest in Shanghai art.
Kartini Tanoto is the co-director of 1918, a Moganshan Road gallery that has recently negotiated a lease on a second property on Huai'an Road.
The new location is part of a growing artistic scene on Huai'an Road, which is also now home to several design and creative industry companies.
"The Expo was a highly anticipated event in Shanghai. For the past two years there have been a huge number of developments in new, previously undeveloped areas," she told the Global Times.
"Because of the excessive development, there are many new spaces that aren't filling as fast as might have been expected."
Tanoto believes that many developers are turning to art to attract more attention. "In some cases, developers like to temporarily fill up their spaces with art projects, so as to draw potential renters. We see this as a widespread phenomenon in Shanghai at the moment."
"In our case, as much as we like to have more exhibitions at our main gallery, we can't put on more than one exhibition per month. The new space will give us more room for experimental works, and provide room for even non-professional artists to present their ideas," she explained.
The Leo Gallery, based in Ferguson Lane on Wukang Road, has also recently expanded into a second location on the same street.
Leslie Kuo, manager of the gallery, suggested that investing in a second space purely for a temporary Expo exhibition space would be a tough decision for a gallery to make. "Leo Gallery certainly hasn't done so and I haven't heard the Expo mentioned as a factor for the expansion of other galleries."
