Shanghai's 2000 Art Scene: Biennale, Fuck Off, and Useful Life
In 2000, Shanghai hosted three major art events. The Third Shanghai Biennale, titled 'Shanghai Spirit,' took place at the Shanghai Art Museum, which was formerly the Shanghai Race Club, located at 325 Nanjing West Road, and also at the old Shanghai Museum at 456 Nanjing West Road. At the same time, the Eastlink Gallery, a converted grain barn at 1133 West Suzhou Road, featured the provocative exhibit 'Fuck Off,' curated by Ai Weiwei and Feng Boyi. Another exhibition, 'Useful Life,' organized by Yang Zhenzhong, Xu Zhen, and Yang Fudong, was held in a storage space on Dong Daming Road in Hongkou. Notable artworks included Cai Guo-Qiang's 'Year of the Dragon No.1' and Huang Yong Ping's impressive sand replica of the HSBC bank.
Key facts
- Third Shanghai Biennale 'Shanghai Spirit' held at Shanghai Art Museum (renovated Shanghai Race Club) and former Shanghai Museum.
- Fuck Off exhibition curated by Ai Weiwei and Feng Boyi at Eastlink Gallery, a former grain barn.
- Useful Life exhibition organized by Yang Zhenzhong, Xu Zhen, and Yang Fudong in a Hongkou district warehouse.
- Cai Guo-Qiang exhibited gunpowder drawing 'Year of the Dragon No.1' and 'Self-Promotion for the People'.
- Huang Yong Ping's 'Bank of Sand, Sand of Bank' was a twenty-tonne sand replica of the former HSBC bank building.
- Heri Dono's 'Angels Caught on a Trap' (1996) was shown.
- Paintings by Marlene Dumas, Bernard Frize, and Lu Fusheng were on display.
- Biennale symposium 'Shanghai Spirit: A Special Modernity' featured Lee Weng Choy.
Entities
Artists
- Ai Weiwei
- Feng Boyi
- Yang Zhenzhong
- Xu Zhen
- Yang Fudong
- Cai Guo-Qiang
- Huang Yong Ping
- Heri Dono
- Marlene Dumas
- Bernard Frize
- Lu Fusheng
- Lee Weng Choy
- Huang Yan
- Gu Dexin
- Chen Lingyang
- Wang Yin
- Yang Maoyuan
- Ding Yi
Institutions
- Shanghai Art Museum
- Shanghai Race Club
- Shanghai Museum
- Eastlink Gallery
- Asia Art Archive
- Afterall
Locations
- Shanghai
- China
- 325 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai
- 456 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai
- 1133 West Suzhou Road, Shanghai
- Suzhou Creek
- Dong Daming Road, Hongkou district, Shanghai
Sources
- Afterall —