The development of abstract art in Shanghai, in addition to the inheritance of modern painters who returned from studying in the West in the early days, there is also the Shanghai culture formed by the city's unique geographical location, that is, the interest and tolerance of new things.
On January 21st, "Respect and Belief- Shanghai School Abstract Art Research Exhibition" opened at Jiushi Art Museum in Shanghai. The exhibition is co-sponsored by the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University and the Shanghai Jiushi Art Museum. Taking the development of abstract art in Shanghai as a clue, the exhibition sorts out the development of abstract art in Shanghai over the past 100 years, and 61 groups of works by 24 abstract artists living in Shanghai are unveiled in the exhibition.
"c Intoxicated in the Mediterranean" 02, Li Lei, Propylene on canvas, 2013
Li Xiangning, dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University, served as the chief planner, and Yu Xingze, associate professor and artist of the school, served as the curator. "The rapid and multidimensional life scenarios formed under the 'digital world' and the 'sharing economy' have prompted people to continue to shape cities, and cities are changing people's lifestyles accordingly." Yu Xingze said, "The current situation and future of abstract art in Shanghai will serve as a potential force for the development of urban culture. Shanghai abstract art needs to be interpreted in culture to form an independent form, and only by placing it in the field of culture can it be established in the social relations in which various forces constitute, restrict and depend on each other. ”
As the birthplace of Chinese modernist art in the 20th century, Shanghai artists have always maintained their enthusiasm for the exploration of modern art, from the "Decisive Lan Society" born in 1932 to the "Twelve Painting Exhibition" after the founding of New China until 1979, and then to the influx of Western modernism in the 1980s. Since 2000, abstract art exhibitions have been more frequent, and Shanghai abstract art has formed a unique force in the Chinese contemporary art world. Today, judging from the number of abstract artists in Shanghai and the number of exhibitions held, Shanghai has become the "Capital of Abstract Art in China".
"201893" Yu Youhan Acrylic on canvas 2018
When the works of 24 artists collide and blend in the exhibition hall of The Jiushi Art Museum in Shanghai, the research topics of this exhibition originating from and flourishing in The Hai School are immediately brought to the exhibition. Participating artists Wang Jieyin, Xue Song, Ding Yi, etc. are contemporary Shanghai abstract artists who live and create in Shanghai, and they have experienced the same historical changes and development of the times, forming their own unique artistic thinking.
In the eyes of industry insiders, "Shanghai Abstract Art" is an abstract art form based on different creative concepts and the pursuit of diversity; it is a contemporary art creation whole formed by artists rooted in Shanghai and jointly seeking a basis in culture. "Haipai Abstract Art" is an important part of Chinese modern and contemporary art; Haipai abstraction has played an important role in the de-marginalization of Chinese abstract art, and has also supplemented and demonstrated the study of Chinese modern and contemporary painting language.
"2019-12" Huang Yuanqing 2019 Painting
Taking "Haipai Abstract Art" as the clue, this exhibition takes artists living in Shanghai and has been engaged in abstract art creation as the research object, and displays their works, aiming to explore the schema language of these artists' works and the specific cultural characteristics behind them, and to explore the development direction of Haipai abstract art in the context of the new era.
While emphasizing the academic nature, the exhibition will also introduce a model of museum-school cooperation in public education, and during the exhibition, curator Yu Yu Yuze will be invited to teach art knowledge to students by using the Kushi Art Museum as an off-campus classroom. Jiushi Art Museum hopes that with this exhibition, more citizens can understand the abstract art of Haipai and share the unique cultural temperament of Haipai and the charm of Haipai art in the city.
Since its opening, Shanghai Jiushi Art Museum has adhered to the principle of academic establishment, while also committed to spreading the culture of Shanghai school and planting the spirit of the city. This exhibition is another exhibition of academic nature after the "Between the Wonders of the Crowd - 2021 China-Europe Art Invitation Exhibition" held at the end of last year, which has great academic value for combing and exploring the formation and development of Haipai culture and art, and further clarifies the academic direction of Jiushi Art Museum's research and promotion of Haipai culture and art. In 2022, The Museum of Art will continue to launch a series of research-oriented exhibitions that are in line with its academic direction.
The exhibition opened to the public on January 22 and will continue to be on display until March 13.