Shanghai Daily news

Between the Jinqiao and Lujiazui areas in Pudong District is Thumb Plaza. The fine shopping and dining center has lots to offer in a small area spread over multiple levels around a classic open air plaza.
While this may be just another shopping paradise for some locals, it also embodies a place with modern artistic elements where art galleries and museums abound.
This week's District Special wanders around this special facility where art interacts with the people and commerce, providing a separate and rarefied feeling for those who have tired of shopping.

Thumb Plaza
To most people, this shopping plaza is just a lifestyle mall offering a variety of stores, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.
This is indeed true, yet, it has much more than that.
The plaza is an open, international, contemporary stage for art and exhibitions. It has collected and displayed many high-caliber works by both native and international artists, including the sculptures "Thumbs Up" by French artist Caesar and "Love" by Robert Indiana, a famous American pop artist.
Address: 199 Fangdian Road
Traffic: Take Metro Line No. 2 and get off at Century Park Station. The plaza is about 10 minutes by taxi.

Zendai MoMA
For an art museum, its location in a commercial plaza is truly a pioneering idea for China. As the city's first private art museum, Zendai Museum of Modern Art is funded entirely by the Zheng Da Property Group. The company is headed by Dai Zhitong, a longtime enthusiastic supporter of modern art.
The 3,000-square-meter building, of which half is exhibition space, is leading the way in China. It is presenting cutting-edge international exhibitions which actively introduce to local audiences a diverse range of contemporary ideas and new cultural experiences from around the world.
The museum is currently hosting an exhibition themed "Christmas is Approaching." This examines the Chinese concept of Christmas, providing an interesting mutation of the Western holiday. This group show features five artists and four designers.
There are also two multimedia shows. One is themed "The Passion of Light" which features the works of Iian Mott, while another, "Visual Creativity in the Urban City," is a mixed-media group show presented by the first graduates majoring in event planning at the China Academy of Fine Arts. Their art works identify a "certain moment" in daily life which people are numb to.
Address: Building 28, 199 Fangdian Road, Pudong
Tel: 5033-9801
Date: Through Friday

Creative Furniture Warehouse
When you think about art presentation, what comes to mind? For most, art represents aesthetics in an enclosed environment, especially established to accentuate the effects of the piece. So what if we loosen the rigid, ideological conceptions we have accepted for years and enter into a warehouse that is actually a fusion of sculpture, painting, modern art and traditional furniture.
This football-field-sized 4,600-square-meter warehouse is now a fixed exhibition hall for an art group initiated by Ma Yixing - "Xinghe Art Group." The space acts as a temptation in finding new ways for modern artists to survive.
An installation art piece by Ma featuring dozens of rocks placed randomly is the first thing to catch a visitor's eye once entering the warehouse. Another installation art presented by Liu Gang features a series of various musical instrument that is fun and also eye-catching.
The warehouse will hold regular art events next year. For more information, visit www.tftftf.com.
Address: Buildings 6-18, 199 Fangdian Road
Time: 10am-10pm

My Bridge
For most women, one-of-a-kind flair in clothes design is always in style, whatever the current fashion trend evolving. At My Bridge, visitors get an original shopping experience as all the clothing is locally designed. These clothing lines aren't available at any big chain stores, yet they are sold at a reasonable price.
At this store, every item has a unique element that makes it stands out and looks completely different from what everyone else is wearing. You may find a traditional "Tang" suit or some cutting-edge and exaggerate design from among the 20 designers displaying their works.
Address: Building 8, 199 Fangdian Road
Tel: 5033-9123
Time: Noon-10pm