Asia Pacific’s leading fair dedicated to photo-based and digital artworks, is delighted to introduce China Showcase at the seventh edition of Photo London, opening this week from 12-15 May. This presentation takes place as part of the newly formed partnership between the World Photography Organisation, organiser of PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai, and Photo London. The partnership brings together two of the leading global photography organisations dedicated to the development and cultural enrichment of the medium. Central to this is the fostering of a creative dialogue and cross-cultural collaborations between the two fairs through a joint programme of curated content.
© Yang Yongliang, Time Immemorial - Old Pine, 2016, Giclee Print on Fine Art Paper, 80×80 cm.
Courtesy of Matthew Liu Fine Arts (Shanghai)
China Showcase presents a group show by 10 Chinese artists, represented by some of the Fair’s leading exhibitors. Exploring a range of contemporary issues, works on display include an examination of the processes of urban development as presented in Yang Yongliang’s (b.1980, Matthew Liu Fine Arts) Time Immemorial, a series which combines Chinese traditional landscape art with digital techniques to create an image of contemporary life; Guo Guozhu’s (b.1982, Matthew Liu Fine Arts) Lingering Garden which depicts the eerie remains of abandoned villages; Chen Ronghui (b.1989, Three Shadows +3 Gallery) who observes cityscapes and individual lives in various urban settings in China; and Liu Ke (b. 1977, Three Shadows +3 Gallery) who photographs scenes at the Three Gorges Dam where residents are faced with changes in their living environment.
Ma Hailun, PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai, Gaotai Gallery
Several of the artists presented consider the theme of life and death: among them is Hu Weiyi’s (b.1990, HdM GALLERY) Blue Bones in which the artist uses X-rays of patients and embeds them with negatives of flowers; Wang Juyan’s (b.1993, see+ gallery) Project 2086 which captures destruction caused by military force; while Stanley Fung’s (b.1961, M Art Center) portrait delivers a precious message of peace and tranquillity.
Other works transport visitors to a particular space: Jiang Zhi’s (b.1971, X Contemporary Art) Fade takes audiences back to an ordinary home in China in the 1970s; Xu Guanyu’s (b.1993, Gaotai Gallery) Resident Aliens presents some of the complicated conditions immigrants experience in the U.S., questioning notions of power and territory; and Ma Hailun’s (b.1992, Gaotai Gallery) Uruklyn explores Urumqi and Uyghur culture through street fashion.
Fan Ni, director of PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai said, ‘We are thrilled to be participating at Photo London this year and to have the opportunity to provide a glimpse into the exciting contemporary photography scene in China. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Photo London and to welcoming audiences and exhibitors to our new edition in April 2023.’
The next edition of PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai will take place from 20 - 23 April 2023 at Shanghai Exhibition Centre.
ABOUT PHOTOFAIRS SHANGHAI
PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai is Asia Pacific’s leading fair dedicated to photo-based and digital artworks. It was established in 2014 in response to growing interest and demand for collecting photography in the region. Held annually, the Fair is a fine arts showcase embracing conceptual and experimental practices alongside the work of modern masters and contemporary talents. It acts as a site for discovery, presenting galleries and artists working at the forefront of the medium. Complemented by the vibrant public, VIP and satellite events programs, the Fair brings together museums and galleries from Shanghai and across China in a celebration of the best in photography from the Asia Pacific and around the world. PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai is organized by the World Photography Organisation and is part of The Art Assembly. www.photofairs.org
THE WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY ORGANISATION
Founded in 2007 by CEO Scott Gray, the World Photography Organisation is a leading global platform dedicated to the development and advancement of photographic culture. Our programming and competition initiatives provide valuable opportunities for artists working in photography and help broaden the conversation around their work. Through our fairs, we play a key role in driving the growth of the contemporary art market for photo-based art and deepening audience engagement with the medium. The World Photography Organisation’s portfolio includes the Sony World Photography Awards, one of the world’s biggest photography competitions, PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai the leading fair in the Asia Pacific dedicated to photo-based and digital artworks and Photo London the international fair held annually at Somerset House, London. www.worldphoto.org
THE ART ASSEMBLY
The Art Assembly is an affiliation of major international art fairs with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific region comprising Taipei Dangdai, India Art Fair, Sydney Contemporary, PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai and the forthcoming ArtSG. It represents a joint initiative between three of the world’s leading art fair organisers headed by Sandy Angus, Tim Etchells and Magnus Renfrew.
The Art Assembly’s member fairs provide an important meeting place for the local and international art worlds and act as regional focal points for creative and commercial exchange. Informed by a deep-rooted understanding of the local market, each event is tailored to its unique orientation.
The Art Assembly aims to drive innovation, deepen engagement with contemporary art and encourage cross-cultural conversations. It achieves this by strengthening collaboration and promoting knowledge and resource sharing across the group. The Assembly pulls together decades’ worth of experience, expertise, and an extensive global network of contacts and assets, to the benefit of its member fairs, galleries and audiences. www.theartassembly.com
