Xuhui

XUHUI  

As one of China’s four direct-administered municipalities, there’s no other city like Shanghai. Rich in art and culture as well as international relations history, every corner of Shanghai has a story to tell. The city is also one of Asia’s earliest contemporary art hubs, attracting many international galleries and artists while domestically growing and developing its own institutions. Shanghai’s emphasis on culture has also seen the growth of some key districts such as the West Bund, with many other new projects currently in the making. 

The famous French Concession of Shanghai (established in 1849 and ending in 1943) was the oldest, largest and most prosperous concession among the 4 major concessions in modern China. It is primarily located within Xuhui and adds a western twist to the district that is also known as ‘Paris of the East’. Xuhui’s name comes from an area located within the district called Xujiahui, which used to be the Roman Catholic centre of the Concession. Strolling down the streets lined with sycamore trees, you’ll find many historical European-style buildings, trendy cafés and restaurants as well as boutiques. 

Galerie Dumonteil 杜梦堂 

Since 1982, Galerie Dumonteil has played an important role in promoting modern and contemporary art. The gallery is known for its display of western art between 1930s to 1970s but has also expanded its collection to discovering new contemporary artists. Established in 2008, its Shanghai branch provides a platform for strengthening artistic collaborations within Asia. It is one of the first Western galleries to be involved in the early stage of Chinese contemporary art. It aims to play a major role for cultural exchange between Asia and the West. 

Arario Gallery 阿拉里奥画廊  

Since opening in 1989, Arario Gallery currently runs three spaces both in Korea and China. Originally from Korea, Arario Gallery first opened in Shanghai in 2014. In 2017 it relocated to the West Bund, joining many of the cities’ top art institutions. Committed to discovering and promoting Asian artists in international arena, Arario hosts regular joint exhibitions with other art spaces in Shanghai, embracing all genres of visual art, including paintings, sculptures, film and installation.

BANK / MABSOCIETY 

Located in the former Bank Union Building near the Bund, BANK / MABSOCIETY is a hybrid organisation established in 2013. It serves as a studio, office, and exhibition space for MABSOCIETY, which was founded by Mathew Borysevicz in 2012 and which operates as a curatorial and consulting agent for emerging artists. BANK works with international artists, galleries, collectors, curators, and institutions to support their innovative programmes that link China to the global art scene. 

Capsule Shanghai 胶囊上海   

Established in late 2016, Capsule Shanghai is situated on the 1st floor of a picturesque 1930s garden house. From its inception, its mission was to push geo–political boundaries; Capsule’s special focus is on artists who have personally and professionally migrated between regions, creating unique trans-national and trans-regional links. With unique and refreshing exhibitions, the gallery’s unique venue provides an artistic afternoon interlude in the French Concession. 

Leo Gallery Shanghai 

Founded in 2008, Leo Gallery Shanghai is housed across two buildings in the charming Ferguson Lane, the diplomatic quarter of Shanghai’s former French Concession. It is respected for its progressive power in nurturing young and established contemporary artists and promoting Asian and European art. In 2014, the gallery also expanded to Hong Kong.

Shanghai Arts and Crafts Museum 上海工藝美術博物館  

If you love crafts or anything hand-made, then stop by Shanghai Arts and Crafts Museum. Established in 2002, the museum is known as the ‘Little White House’ of the district and the building is one of the first protected historical cultural buildings in the city. It hosts three permanent thematic exhibitions – Embroidery, Sculpture/Carving, and Folk Art. Together, they recount the history and development of these artisanal crafts in China. 

Shun Art Gallery

Shun Art Gallery, founded in Shanghai’s M50 Art District in 2006, operates with the mission of promoting Asian contemporary art. The gallery curates solo and group exhibitions featuring artists from China, Japan, Korea, India, and more. It also facilitates the exchange and introduction of Western artists. In 2020, Shun Art Gallery expanded to Tokyo with Shun Art Gallery. Tokyo and collaborated with Shanghai Space (Shun Art Gallery · Shanghai) to establish a multinational display platform. The gallery represents artists from different periods in art history, spanning from the early 20th century to the cutting-edge NFT artists of today.

WEST BUND 

Hugging the Huangpu River, Shanghai West Bund (also known as Shanghai Corniche) is described as a ‘planning-based, culture-oriented, eco-based and technological-innovation-driven’ area. What used to be an industrial area along the 11.4 km shoreline has now been transformed into a cultural hub that many artistic establishments such as galleries and museums call home. Indeed, though part of Xuhui district, West Bund has now come into its own to represent artistic creativity and innovation. Its large open space away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre as well as its waterfront promenade make it perfect for a leisurely day out. 

Long Museum West Bund 龙美术馆西岸馆 

Located at the bank of Huangpu River, Long Museum West Bund was originally a wharf for coal transportation. Also founded in 2014, it is one of four locations of the Long Museum and the second to be established by Liu Yiqian and his wife, Wang Wei; the museum’s first location is in Pudong, and its two other locations are in Wuhan and Chongqing. With a cantilever structure featuring ‘vault-umbrella’ structures with independent walls, the exterior architecture is a sight to behold. Inside, the first and second floors are devoted to contemporary art including paintings, sculptures, installations, and new media, while the audiences can admire the permanent collection of ancient Chinese artifacts in the basement.

ShanghArt Gallery 香格纳画廊 

Founded in 1996, ShanghArt Gallery was one of the earliest contemporary galleries birthed in Shanghai and China. Settling in the West Bund in 2016, its new location not only houses a large exhibition space, but also a library, an image archive, and multi-functional rooms. The gallery has worked with high-quality, high-potential contemporary artists for the past 20 years, and has an undeniable place in both the Shanghai and greater China art industry. 

Don Gallery 东画廊 

A gallery dedicated to nurturing and promoting Chinese contemporary artists, since 2007 Don Gallery has provided an experimental platform for both emerging and established artists. With a location in the West Bund, Don has endeavoured to take an initiative on curatorial innovation and accommodate a promising configuration of international artists, while continuing to support an important generation of Chinese artists in collaboration with various institutions. 

teamLab Borderless 无界美术馆 

Represented primarily by Pace Gallery, teamLab is an innovative and forward-thinking art collective that constantly pushes the boundaries between art, science, and technology. Established in 2019 in Shanghai, their team includes not only artists, but also engineers, animators, mathematicians, and architects. teamLab Borderless strives to provide immersive experiences for their audience, challenging their senses through multi–media art in their expansive 6,600 square metre space.  

TANK Shanghai 上海油罐美术馆 

Like many of its West Bund neighbours, TANK Shanghai was also a revitalisation project of an abandoned industrial site, in this case the Shanghai Longhua Airport, one of the first airports in China that was decommissioned in 1966. Opening its doors to the public in 2019, it is now a non-profit art institution and a multi-functional art centre complete with green spaces, a plaza, and a café. With three of the tanks repurposed for exhibition use and the other two for supporting functions, visiting this unique art space is a must if you’re in the area. 

West Bund Museum (WBM) 西岸美术馆  

Another new museum that opened in 2019, West Bund Museum sits directly on the banks of the Huangpu River and is one of Shanghai’s key contemporary art institutions. The building consists of 3 main gallery volumes placed in a pinwheel formation around a central lobby. This configuration allows for different components of the museum to operate independently, and thus it not only displays long-term thematic exhibitions throughout the year, but it is also in a 5-year partnership with the Centre Pompidou – France’s National Museum of Modern Art. Through joined forces, the WBM and the Centre Pompidou host renowned pieces from Paris and educational forums.  

Pond Society 池社 

Founded by the founders of New Century Art Foundation in 2017, Xue Bing and Wang Bin, Pond Society is not only an exhibition space but also an arts exchange platform, paying tribute to a 1980s Chinese art group. Xue Bing is a collector himself, and showcases some of his own collections alongside other works of both established and emerging artists. It is dedicated to supporting Chinese artists and promoting local contemporary art practices through its collection.