Shanghai Daily News

Qingpu has made a remarkable transformation from a rural village on the edge of the city to a diverse arts-happy district with the advent of some impressive architecture constructed in recent years.

Nowhere is this change more dramatically expressed than at the "Yellow Box" contemporary arts exhibition in the district's Xiao Xi Men (Small West Gate). The show, which opened on Wednesday, runs through October 7.

Featuring the works of 50 artists and architects, both domestic and foreign, the exhibits are displayed in a series of renovated houses in an old village.

Such a "space" was used to challenge traditional concepts of an art museum.

Sun Jiwei, a PhD in architectonics and the vice director of Qingpu District, pointed out that nowadays greater concern is placed on commercial and economic activities rather than on arts and culture.

"What we are doing is to make something that inspires or stimulates society or the people; to give them fresh air, rather than just images that follow the economy," he said.

"The concept of Yellow Box is to retain the traditional Chinese art elements while creating more art possibilities."

Artists and architects were invited to create and display works through different media forms, including architectural models, paintings, photography, video, installations and experimental mixed media productions.

In many Western countries, "White Cube" is traditionally the definition of a contemporary art museum. In contrast, Yellow Box was initiated by the Visual Culture Research Center of China Academy of Art as a space for contemporary art with a strong Chinese characteristics.

Located in the district's center, Xiao Xi Men - a 2,428-square-meter space - may not be the best example of a watertown in the city, but comprehensive efforts and a modern art design concept have been implemented to revive the previously rather plain and non-descript area.

The layout and materials used for the community all retain the site's original watertown characteristics which is considered a pioneering project in China.

World famous artist and architects, including Ma Qingyun, Wu Shanzhuan, Liu Jiakun and Liu Dahong from China, Arata Isozaki from Japan and the Intravision Group from Norway are participating in the monthlong show.

Shanghai-based artist Liu Dahong presents his criticism of modern society through several steel basins featuring oil paintings inside; the Norway Intravision Group's light sculpture exhibit  entitled "The Sad Truth," is adorned with Chinese and English characters.

Zhang Songhong, one of the planners of the show, expressed his view toward the combination of architect and contemporary art.

"The exhibition takes the Xiao Xi Men as the subject of investigation and experimental space for contemporary art," he said.

"I see it as seeking to discover hidden potential for different artistic media in such places where locals' daily life exists."