Organisatie:

696 Weihai Lu

Opium storage facility turned Art Studios

696 Weihai Lu is not only an address, but a series of former opium storage facilities now housing an artist community with more than 40 artist studios and an increasing number of galleries. It’s not very polished which makes it fun to wander around. Most artists are very welcoming and open to show their studio and work.

Vergroot

Figures for the Base of a Crucifixion - Image taken from an article regarding the work by one of the artist studio companies at 696 Weihai Lu. This image is from the series "Figures for the Base of a Crucifixion" references depictions of Mary Magdalene, who throughout the art has alternatively been portrayed either kneeling to anoint Jesus's feet or as a half-naked whore. Susanne Junker (artist and gallery owner) taps into this angel/whore dichotomy (so often thrust upon womankind) in one self-portrait where she kneels with her eyes…

Rebelling against Moganshan Lu, a group of younger artists moved into the century-old British style buildings at 696 Weihai Lu a couple of years ago, creating an incubator for multi media art. Notably, these buildings probably once served as opium storage facilities. Although the entire complex nearly became another architectural fatality recently when the government threatened to raze it to build skyscrapers, the fledgling community caught a break at the last minute and renewed their leases. Feet planted a bit more firmly in the concrete, 696 has sprouted a couple of low-profile galleries in addition to the 30-something artists who rent studio space there.

Source: Smart Shanghai
See also an article about the space.

Contact informatie

  • 696 Weihai Lu
  • 696 Weihai Lu
  • Shanghai
  • CN