西岸 | BEST BUND

After a series of press conferences held in Shanghai, Venice and Hong Kong and eight months’ preparation, the first international cross-media exhibition in Asia “West Bund 2013: A Biennial of Architecture and Contemporary Art” was officially inaugurated in Xuhui Waterfront area of Shanghai at 17:00 on Oct. 20, 2013. Elites and distinguished guests at home and abroad were invited to the opening ceremony. Chief curator Zhang Yonghe, architecture curator Li Xiangning and art curator Gao Shiming worked together with the Pritzker winner Wang Shu, Chinese pioneer playwright Mou Sen, the father of Chinese sound art Yao Dajun and other 80 famous architects and 68 artists at home and abroad to jointly present the world’s only international biennial themed architecture and art.

The first session of West Bund Biennial was un-curtained with “Cloud Theatre: Shanghai Odyssey”, aiming to reveal the evolution of 170-year epical history of Shanghai and predict West Bund of the future. When the dancers from Shanghai Xuhui District were dancing through the apple forest, there was a thunder of applause heard over the pre-homogenization silo left by the former Shanghai cement factory. Then it was a brief opening ceremony, jointly hosted by the architecture curator Li Xiangning and art curator Gao Shiming. Xu jiang, president of China Academy of Art and director of the academic committee of this biennial, made a speech on behalf of the sponsor. Party secretary of Tongji University Zhou Zuyi, party secretary of China Academy of Art Qian Xiaofang, secretary of Shanghai Xuhui District Sun Jiwei, deputy secretary and district mayor Guo Jianfei, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences Zheng Shiling, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering Cui Kai, the Pritzker winner Wang Shu, chief curator Zhang Yonghe, president of Venice International University and former ambassador Umberto Vattani launched the ceremony together, officially announcing opening of the West Bund 2013: A Biennial of Architecture and Contemporary Art. During the evening, there were also Architecture Feature Exhibition and Video Feature Exhibition in the per-homogenization silo at the main show space, and Sound Art Exhibition in the former CAO oil tank and Sonar Art Shanghai at the open square. Based on the four cultural forms (Oriental DreamWorks, music halls, museums and new buildings) constructed by West Bund, the biennial has started a systematic study on the contemporary architecture, sound art, video art and contemporary drama, opening people’s mind about the future through reviewing the past. 

International New Cultural Landmark

Xuhui Waterfront with 8.4 meters shoreline by the Huangpu River is home to the modern Shanghai-style culture, here meeting the Chinese and Western culture and giving birth to the modern cultural industry. In the face of opportunities and challenges in the new century, Xuhui Waterfront greatly promotes its urban renewal plan. Commencement and construction of the “West Bund Culture Corridor” brand project, West Bund Media Port, Oriental DreamWorks have developed ready a brand new cultural landmark—Shanghai West Bund. 

West Bund 2013: A Biennial of Architecture and Contemporary Art was generated against such backdrop. As a beneficial attempt in the West Bund development, the biennial will explore the relation between architecture and art, reflect on the interaction among a city, environment and human-being, point out the development direction for a better and more imaginative city, put the philosophy of Shanghai World Expo “Better City, Better Life” into practice, and level up the cultural image of the whole West Bund. As an ultimate goal, Shanghai West Bund will become a new international cultural landmark comparable with the Left Bank of Paris and the South Bank of London. 

Giant Structure across Architecture and Art

As an emerging international exhibition, merging architecture and contemporary art, the West Bund 2013: A Biennial of Architecture and Contemporary Art has invited famous architects and artists at home and abroad to develop the cultural frontier of West Bund and construct West Bund architecture and art landscape. Moreover, the biennial will align with all the genres of architecture and contemporary art, such as sound, video, space, installation and performance, to motivate the urban development through space construction and inspire people’s imagination about the future through art.

Exhibitions: Fabrica International Construction Exhibition outdoor + 4 Reflecta Feature Exhibitions indoor

The first session of West Bund Biennial was un-curtained with “Cloud Theatre: Shanghai Odyssey” and consists of outdoor construction exhibition and indoor feature exhibitions. Outdoor is the Fabrica international construction exhibition where there are architects’ construction works and the artists’ works representing the two kinds of most leading-edge production manners and action modes. The indoor exhibitions are themed Reflecta, including four exhibitions featuring architecture, drama, video and sound.

Forums: Chinese Contemporary Architecture Summit Forum + Art Forum

Integrating the projects of architecture, contemporary art summit and public cultural education, West Bund 2013: A Biennial of Architecture and Contemporary Art has provided an opportunity for communication among the architects, artists, scholars and the public. It has found a station where we can slow down steps for review and evaluation in the rapidly urbanized China. On the other hand, it is also a recharged starting point to trigger a new historical context for future biennials and Shanghai West Bund. 

Outdoor Exhibition: Fabrica International Construction Exhibition

Curator: Li Xiangning

This section is located at the waterfront outdoor open space at West Bund, with “Pre-Fab” and “In-Situ” as its core concepts. The exhibition displayed the most cutting-edge architecture construction and production manner through waterfront buildings of diversified styles created by a crowd of famous architects and artists, including Zhang Yonghe, Wang Shu+Lu Wenyu, Zeng Qun+Wang Fangji, Schmidt Hammer Lassen Atelier (Demark), Johnston Marklee (America), Michael Bell, Urbanus, and Yoshiharu Tsukamoto.

Exhibitor architects (11 groups)

Michael Bell + Eunjeong Seong, Ensamble Studio, SHL Architects, Atelier Deshaus (Liu Yichun + Chen Qifeng), Atelier Bow-Wow, Wang Shu+Lu Wenyu, Zhang Yonghe, Zeng Qun + Wang Fangji, Johnston Marklee, Li Hu + Huang Wenjing, Urbanus

Indoor Core Exhibition: Architecture Feature Exhibition “Mapping China: A Retrospective Review of Its Architecture Since 2000”

Curator: Li Xiangning, Yao Weiwei

The decade since the year 2000 has witnessed rapid development of Chinese urbanization and large-scale construction and participation of the Chinese architects into the world for better recognition and attention. “Mapping” is demonstration of geographic space concept. As review of the Chinese contemporary architecture since 2000, the exhibition has selected more than a hundred pieces of works by over 70 architects/ateliers for a panorama display, responding to the challenges confronting Chinese architecture in many ways. Another essential part of the exhibition is the theoretically sorting out of the Chinese contemporary architecture by four theorists, which can help the audience interpret the works intensively and then associate to the restriction context of the consequence concluded (buildings) and the unique mechanism and system of the contemporary Chinese space construction.

Exhibitor architects:

Exhibitor architects of the “Indoor exhibition: Reflecta of China” (71 groups)

Zhang Yonghe, Cui Kai, Dong Gong, Dong Yugan, Urbanus, ikuku, Feng Guochuan, He Jiangxiang, Fu Xiao, Ling Kege, Ge Ming, Wang Fangji, Han Tao, Shi Guoping, Hao Lin, Dai Pu, Hu Yue, Hua Li, Huang Shengyuan, Li Linxue, Wang Weiren, Li Xiaodong, Li Xinggang, Zeng Qun, Li Hu+Huang Wenjing, Liu Xian, Tang Hua, Liu Jiakun, Liu Kecheng, Liu Yuyang, Liu Yichun+Chen Qifeng, Ma Qingyun, Ma Yansong, Neri&Hu, Shao Weiping, Yu Ting, Tao Lei, Tong Ming, Wang Junyang, Zhou Ling, Wang Lu, Wang Shu, Wang Shuo, Chen Xudong, Wang Jun, Wei Chunyu, Wu Gang, Xie Yingjun, Xu Tiantian, Li Li, Yuan Feng, Zhang Bin+Zhou Wei, Zhang Ke, Zhang Lei, Zhang Zhiyang, Zhong Qiao, Zhang Ming+Zhang Zi, Zhu Jingxiang, Zhu Pei, Zhu Xiaofeng, Atelier Archmixing, David Chipperfield, GMP, Herzog& De Meuron, ISOZAKI + HuQian, OMA, SHL, Archea, Steven Holl, Tadao Ando, UNStudio

Exhibitor architects of “Special Topics” (6 groups)

Li Xiangning, Shi Jian, Zhu Jianfei, Tang Keyang, Qin Lei+Yang Fan, Wang Kai + Zeng Qiaoqiao

Drama Feature Exhibition and Opening Program “Cloud Theatre: Shanghai Odyssey”

Chief narrator/ art director: Mou Sen

Chief director: Ma Nan, Liu Tian

As the opening program for the West Bund Biennial, “Cloud Theatre: Shanghai Odyssey” looked back and forward in the epical evolution of Shanghai urbanization, selecting the pre-homogenization silo of the former Shanghai cement factory located at Xuhui Waterfront as the specific space, the circular narration as basis and Xujiahui—the origin of Shanghai-style culture as the starting point. The whole theatre scene was shaped by the space imaging, sound of the city, and dancing theatre as the media. Dancers from all walks of life in Xuhui District made use of their facial expression and body movements to echo with the West Bund in the times of farming, port opening and heavy industry and even in the future. Their performance has revealed the prosperous vitality of the local culture, expressing the unique dignity of Shanghai.

Exhibitor architects (6 groups)

Xiao Lihe, Jeffery Shaw, Yao Dajun, Jaap Blonk, Niu Dawu, Jin Yanan

Video Feature Exhibition “Resolution Power: A Performative Video”

Curator: Guo Xiaoyan, Liu Xiao

Since the year 2000, Chinese video art has represented a composition process similar to movie production. Production of a video has become a process of thinking and action. This exhibition takes “Performative Video” as the unit to introduce the extensive video landscape in the Chinese contemporary art, put forward the questions related to the action status, memories and reality, integrate the various implementation methods including the body, the scene and time, and enable a direct dialogue with the reality of the world. The most powerful video works by famous Chinese contemporary artists Zhang Peili, Wang Jianwei, Yang Fudong, Liu Wei, Hu Jieming, Cheng Ran, and Liu Chuang were brought into the exhibition. Motivated by the videos, the exhibition created a common moment connecting the reality and the demonstration and a social topic that will change the traditional narration of the history and cliché perception of life.

Exhibitor artists (22 groups)

Zhang Peili, Chen Jieren, Wang Jianwei, Yang Fudong, Liu Wei, Wang Junjie, Hu Jieming, Gao Shiqiang, Dong Bingfeng, Jiang Zhi, Wu Junyong, Sun Xun, Zhou Yi, Jiang Pengyi, Cheng Ran, Cui Guangyu, Liu Chuang, Lu Yang, Yi Lian, Huang Ran, Luo Jinhua, Studio of Experimental Image

Sound Feature Exhibition “RPM: Sound Art China”

Curator: Yao Dajun

The exhibition RPM: Sound Art China is a historical event where for the first time the world makes a comprehensive review and presentation of the Chinese sound art accomplishments and its status quo, and for the first time the Chinese sound practice touches and confronts the public extensively. The theme of this exhibition RPM (short for Revolutions Per Minute) literally means the unit of revolving speed of sound carriers such as phonographs and gramophones. Beyond the superficial meaning, it is a metaphor of the rapid development of Chinese sound art history over the ten years. Attendance of the famous international sound artists including Alva Noto (Carsten Nicolai), Jaap Blonk, Merzbow (Asami Akita) highlights the international nature of the exhibition. As the current international sound art emphasizes on nature of things, techniques and discourse, this exhibition will focus on empirical quality of the sound art and return to listening itself for introspection.

Exhibitor artists (32 groups)

1.Sound works and artists:

Lou Nanli, Zeng Weihao, Jiang Zhuyun, Yao Dajun, Xu Cheng, Shi Wenhua, Yang Jiahui, Wang Zhipeng, Lin Qiwei, Yan Jun+Yu Ji, Zheng Bo, Zhang Liming, Sun Wei, Weng Wei, Zhang Jianfu, Wang Zhongkun, Zhang Cheng, Yin Yi, Luo Runting, Wang Changcun, Wang Furui, Xu Wenkai+ Event Structure, Chinese Sound Art Timeline

2.Sound performing artists:

Wang Changcun, Marco Donnarumma, Yang Jiahui, RMBit, Jaap Blonk, Alva Noto, Lou Nanli, Yan Jun, Nue Hu, Edwin van der Heide, Merzbow , DJ Qbert, Jiang Zhuyun

Special Plan in the Feature Project “Fabrica”

Exhibitor artists (3 groups)

Raqs Media Collective, Wu Junyong, Zeng Weihao

Special Project “Xue xi Lab”

Exhibitor artists (1 group)

Zheng Bo

Chinese Contemporary Architecture Summit Forum

Roundtables

Centering on contemporary architectural theory and practice in China and contemporary architectural media and discourse production in China, the summit reviewed and analyzed the architecture exhibition, reflecting the current situation the Chinese contemporary architecture is faced up with. The attendee guests are: Shi Jian, Ma Qingyun, Wang Mingxian, Tang Keyang, Li Xiangning, Zhu Tao, Wang Junyang, Li Hua, Donald L. Bates, Zhou Rong, Huang Juzheng, Rao Xiaojun, Fan Xue, Zhi Wenjun, Li Baofeng, Peng Xiaoli, Fang Zhenning

Opening Forum

In the opening forum, Zhang Yonghe, Li Xiangning, Stanford Aderson, Zheng Shiling, Sarah Whiting, and Manuel Cuadra delivered keynote speeches on the crucial and latest topics with respect to the biennial and the current architectural disciplinary study. Those topics include: Tradition and Critical Thinking, Self-determination of Fusion, and Architecture in Life | Imbalance between Nature, Lifestyle and Culture

Art Forum

City Lights—“progress of public performing space and urbanization”

This forum investigated the relation between performing arts, public performing space and progress and a city and society. The speakers shared their experience based on their own theatre practice, providing reference and inspiration to the rational utilization of the public performing space in the future. The attendee guests include: Mou Sen, Ma Nan, Liu Tian, Zheng Bo, Frie Leysen, Fu Jin, Tao Qingmei, Daniel Irrgang, Man Yuxian, Fumio Niwa, Hiroko Nishimura, Yao Ruizhong, Tang Ling, Zhou Hongmei, Luo Xiuzhi, Giaco Schiesser, Kim Machan, Kit Hammonds, and Wang Jiahao.

Resolution Power: working reports of artists

Based on the work of the artists participating in the exhibition, this forum discussed how the video triggers action in the actual experience and its working mode. The attendee guests are: Chen Jieren, Wang Jianwei, Gao Shiming, Guo Xiaoyan, Xu Wenrui, Zheng Huihua, Lu Jie, Liu Wei, Gao Shiqiang, Huang Sunquan, Dong Bingfeng, Liu Xiao

RPM and Stall: criticism to the current Chinese sound art

In this forum, the representative sound artists, scholars, critics and curators from the mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and abroad were invited to review the current sound art practice in these regions, the regional features and turning force in the future. The attendee guests are: Yao Dajun, Yan Jun, Wang Furui, Alice Wong, David Toop, Naut Humon, Ludger Brümmer, Goran Vejvoda, Karel Dudesek, Ingrid Fischer-Schreiber, Wenhua Shi, Lin Qiwei, Yang Jiahui, Zhang Yousheng, Huang Dawang

Agenda

Cloud Theatre: Shanghai Odyssey

Oct. 20th 17:00-17:40 Central Exhibition Hall

Oct. 21st 18:30-19:10 Central Exhibition Hall

Sound Art Program

Oct. 20th 19:30-21:30 Front Square of Central Exhibition Hall

Oct. 21st 20:00-22:00 Front Square of Central Exhibition Hall

Chinese Contemporary Architecture Summit Forum

Oct. 19th 13:00-17:00 Ceramic Pavilion

Oct. 20th 9:00-15:00 Multi-functional Hall in Central Exhibition Area

Art Forum

Oct. 20th 9:00-12:00 Ceramic Pavilion

Oct. 20th 13:00-16:00 Ceramic Pavilion

Oct. 21st 9:00-12:00 Ceramic Pavilion

Official website: http://westbundbiennial.com/

Official micro-blog: http://e.weibo.com/westbund

Douban: West Bund Biennial

Official WeChat: A Biennial of West Bund Architecture and Contemporary Art

Media Contact

West Bund 2013: A Biennial of Architecture and Contemporary Art/ Information Office

Organization