What's On

Shang Simin: 'Bad Water' - Art Exhibition

This exhibition titled Bad Water in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, is a solo show for artist Shang Simin. Nearly 20 acrylic paintings on canvas are on display. His works are exquisite and two-dimensional with surreal stories and peculiar characters, provoking viewers to search for meaning beneath the surface.

The exhibition title Bad Water is derived from a common saying "a belly full of bad water," which means someone with bad intentions. Shang said he believes that something "bad" can be transformed into something good and art can transform negative emotions into visuals and creativity. 

Born in 1983, Shang graduated from the China Academy of Art and The University of Arts London. His ideas come from his early interest and study of conceptual photography. He is interested in exploring different color schemes, using colorful visuals to portray sorrowful subjects to present a sense of black humor.

Where: Inna Art Space, Hangzhou

When: Until August 22, 2022

Price: Free entry

'The Orphan of Zhao' - Musical 

The show in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, is an original Chinese musical by the Shanghai Xujun Art Center. The musical is based on Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) playwright Ji Junxiang's tragedy The Orphan of Zhao and adapted from James Fenton's drama of the same name.

The musical centered on the orphan of Zhao's family highlights the eternal nobleness of humanity by displaying how man will fight against fate. 

Directed by Xu Jun and composed by Jin Shengda, the musical is meant to be a continuation of the classic work from a modern humanistic perspective and a stage work that follows the roots of the original work while reflecting the contemporary era.

Where: Guangzhou Opera House, Guangzhou

When: August 5, 2022 

Price: From 380 yuan ($56)

'The Previous and Present Lives of Memphis Styles' - Art exhibition

This exhibition in Shenzhen is displaying 100 representative designs from the Memphis school of design. This is the first large-scale display of Memphis design in China. 

The exhibition explores the concept behind Memphis art - aesthetics are more important than function - while helping visitors comprehend the unique design and art style of the Memphis school of art.

The Memphis group was founded in the 1980s by legendary Italian designer Ettore Sottsass and a group of avant-garde designers. Sottsass believes that functionalism is not enough and design should also be sensual and exciting.

The name Memphis represents both the city in Tennessee, the US, and the capital city of ancient Egypt. 

The group of designers used the ambiguity behind the name Memphis to represent their ambiguous design philosophy for furniture, objects and textiles.

Notable Memphis design collectors include fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld and legendary rock star David Bowie.

Where: Sea World Culture & Arts Center, Shenzhen

When: Until July 31, 2022

Price: 88 yuan ($13)