It extends to the west of the city of Shanghai, along the Huangou River and offers absolute immersion in the world of art. This cultural space was initiated by the West Band group in the wake of the 2010 Universal Exhibition. All abandoned industrial sites have been managed to become available for offers. The banks of the rivers have, for the most part, been made accessible. Without waiting, the constructions dedicated to artistic expression whatever it is have taken their marks.
West Bund Artistic Center
Since 2014, the Yuz museum, entirely made of glass, has become the “Green Box” for Western and Chinese contemporary art lovers. It is also one of the few museums to be able to accommodate monumental works of art. Their development is always exceptional.
In 2015, the West Bund Artistic Center was established, designed by Chinese architect Liu Yichun. The center develops the concept “Enjoy Life with Art and Design”, presenting the main lines of both Chinese and foreign galleries. There really is something to marvel at. It is in these beautiful volumes that the annual Shanghai Art and Design Fair takes place
Small leap in time – March 2019 – to approach an open architecture on 47,000 m2 and the remains of the old Longhua airport.
Tank Art Center
The landscaped driveway connects five imposing fuel tanks whose surfaces have judiciously retained their industrial appearance. Premier tank, a two-storey house with bar and acoustics conducive to musical interludes. Second tank, a restaurant with a roof terrace for outdoor dining. Third tank, a dome with skylights for large-scale works. Tanks 4 and 5, art galleries on canvas. It is the very type of outdoor center par excellence: you can walk there, jog, picnic on the grass or lie down there during a music festival… The place is more popular with those who don’t really like museums in the city, in the middle of summer
The Voice of Things
This is the title of the exhibition which has just been extended to the Espace Pompidou of the West Bund museum projection. In particular, it brings together emblematic works of the revolution that shook aesthetic standards at the beginning of the 20th century. Added to this are more recent works which question the globalized world and illustrate the importance of the object in the history of modernity. The circuit walks on two floors, respecting a chronological order. We go from Picasso and Fernand Léger to Marcel Duchampet with his “ready-mades”, to Man Ray with his objects of affection…Design lovers will recognize Pier Giacomo, Achille Castiglioni, Gad Aulenti…The title of the exhibition s inspired by the book by Francis Ponge (1899-1988) “Le parti-Paris des choses” Is there a way to look at seemingly banal things, to bring them to life…to find them beautiful, too? Looking at the exhibition, we can deduce that yes!
And last but not least
In 2023, a new and most impressive spot opened on this Museum Mile, the Start Museum designed by Jean Nouvel. He erected this superb space on what was the warehouse of the port of Rihui, without destroying its link with the past. Follow us, it will be one of our next topics.
