The Shanghai Biennale 2010

The 1990s probably represented the peak of biennale fever, with shows that were launched around the world, more so in the Far East. The Shanghai Biennale was a bit behind in terms of registering itself on the international art map. It began only in 1996, but fast emerged as a significant event on the international art calendar. It came to prominence in 2000, when it first included new media artists apart from international curators and artists.

A decade later, the biennale has definitely grown in stature, but it has become a platform for big name art instead of an honest investigation into contemporary practices, a recent article in The New York Times notes. Aware of this, the organizers have opted to take a step backward for reassessing what the biennale actually means and what thematic direction it should take.
Doing away with the tradition it set in 2000, the current edition is led by an all-Chinese expert curatorial team. The executive curator of the biennale, Gao Shiming, reveals: “We decided for 2010, this would be the perfect time and opportunity to ask, what is the Chinese opinion on contemporary art?”

The series of exhibits and seminars that run till 20th, are the brainchild of curator and professor Johnson Chang. He is considered a force in contemporary Chinese art for close to three decades. The new Rockbund Art Museum also had an opening alongside the biennale, for ‘By Day by Night: or Some (Special) Things a Museum Can Do’. It’s more of a mini-festival than a show, and is comprised of seminars, performances and workshops. The art exhibition portion was organized by Hou Hanru, the curator behind the Shanghai Biennale in 2000. According to the art expert, the creation of a museum like this is part of the whole urbanization process.

The theme of core show this year, entitled ‘Rehearsal’, denotes the concept that exhibit spaces are not meant only to display art but also to serve as an ever-changing and dynamic stage, which can engender creativity.