ART NEWS
“Small God, Big City” @ M97 Gallery
Michael Wolf is one of Asia’s most prolific photographers, and this is his third time showing at M97 Gallery – one of Shanghai’s best places to experience the photographic arts of Asia. This solo exhibition includes more than 100 photographs taken from seven of Wolf ’s bodies of work. From alleyways to skyscrapers, metro commutes to life on the street – Wolf is concerned not only with the big city, but also how we live within it.
“Small God, Big City” runs until 23 February (closed Mondays) at M97 Gallery, 2F, 97 Moganshan Lu, near Aomen Lu. Tel: 6266 1597. Web: www.m97gallery.com
“Bold, Beautiful and Damned” @ 10 Corso Como
American-born artist, Tony Viramontes was the creator of many things bold and beautiful throughout his short life. Unfortunately, however, that life was tragically cut short at 31 (the “Damned” part) in 1988. Viramontes worked with fashion and beauty notables, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Versace, Chanel and designed album covers for seminal 80s’ bands, including Duran Duran. Fifteen years after his death, his striking illustrations still vibrate with the New Wave energy of the time.
“Bold Beautiful and Damned” runs until 23 February at 10 Corso Como, Wheelock Square 1,717 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Tongren Lu. Tel: 6286 1072. Web: www.10corsocomo.com
“1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9. Points” @ River South Art Center
Artist Laurent Godard was the man behind the village of Flateurville, a village housed in the back alleys of Paris, until it closed down at the beginning of 2013, but really situated on the border between fiction and reality. This exhibition tells the story of this otherworldly place through portraits of its imaginary inhabitants, each with their own Flateurville address and identity. From the imagination of Godard, a town was born, and now he’s brought it to Shanghai, so we can all experience the reality of fantasy.
“1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9. Points” runs until 30 January at River South Art Center, 1,247 Nan Suzhou Lu, near Xinzha Lu. Tel: 6359 3341. Web: riversouthsh.com
“In the Vicinity” @ Leo Xu Projects
This solo show from 32-year-old, Hangzhoubased, Li Qing consists of a newly tailor-made series of site-specific works. One of those works will be “Neighbour’s Window”, which generates a visual illusion by combining worn out windows in front of paintings of Westernstyle buildings, making it look as though we are inside the home of a middle-class Chinese person, watching the increasingly Westernised world outside of our windows. Li is preoccupied with recording the modern history of Shanghai, opening up a dialogue between the city’s history and its future.
“In the Vicinity” runs until 17 January (closed Mondays) at Leo Xu Projects, Bldg 3, 49 Fuxing Xi Lu, near Yongfu Lu. Tel: 3461 1245. Web: www.leoxuprojects.com
