Shanghai art scene heats up

Rirkrit Tiravanija's "Number One" performance shows at Tang Contemporary Art in Beijing.

Published on August 31, 2007

The booming art market in Shanghai will get an even bigger boost next week, when more 130 galleries present new works at ShContemporary.

A new contemporary art fair with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region, ShContemporary will be held from Thursday until September 9 at Shanghai Exhibition Centre.

The director of the fair is Lorenzo Rudolf, who previously headed Art Basel in Switzerland from 1991 to 2000 and then started the art fair on Miami Beach, Florida. For the Shanghai show, Rudolf teamed up with Pierre Huber, creative director and renowned art gallerist and one of the top international contemporary art collectors.

Thai artists will be presented by Tang Contemporary Art (Bangkok) and 100 Tonson Gallery.

Represented by Tang, conceptual artist Rirkrit Tiravanija will highlight his new work in "The Best Artists" section. This section also feature works by the late Chinese Chen Zhen (Galleria Continua in Shanghai), Japanese Yoshitomo Nara (Tomio Koyama Gallery) and Paris-based Chinese Wang Du (Laurent Godin/Baronian Francey).

Works from 100 Tonson are Chatchai Puipia's new paintings and sculptures, Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook's new photography works and works by Porntaweesak Rimsakul, Yuree Kensaku and Pichaya Khunnawat.

Another section called "Best of Discovery", which present artists of all ages, representing all generations and trends. Among them are Russia's Aleksandr Schumow, Pakistan's Rashid Rana and India's Shilpa Gupta.

For more information, call Tang Contemporary Art at (02) 630 1114 or 100 Tonson at (02) 684 1527 or visit www.shcontemporary.info

A- Thai style in New Zealand

Thai artists have already made their mark on New Zealand's World of Wearable Art Awards, and this year five garments from Thailand will be showcased in the show from September 20 to 30 in Wellington.

Thai entries this year are from both past winners and newcomers. Past winner Anuchit Rachakaew's "World Peace" resembles the wings of a dove, which is the global symbol of peace.

For "China Throne of Princess", Krit Suwandechochai was inspired by a palace in China where Empress Dowager Cixi ruled, showing the power of women in a male-dominated world. Last year he received runner-up for the Tertiary Education Commission Student Design Award for his "The Journey of Memory".

First-time entrant Sudar Sumranwanich has "Volcano", inspired by the colours that erupt from a volcano.

Supanee Luksanasiyo has entered two works, "Queen of the Oceans", with the concept that nature creates the ecological system for proper control and balance, and "C-O Space", which was designed so that its form can be freely adapted by adding more free space simply by sliding the zipper up or down.

For more information on WOW 2007, visit www.worldofwearableart.com or www.newzealand.com

Moss gathered

Off the runway, British model Kate Moss lives her Bohemian life in London underground bars or galleries. But the model sometimes collaborates with artists, and recently Moss has become subject matter for British artist Marc Quinn. His creation of a three-metre-high painted bronze statue entitled "Myth (Sphinx)" of Moss is a part of the "Beyond Limits" exhibition that will be auctioned privately by Sothebys auction house on September 8.

- Combined by Phatarawadee Phataranawik