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This work by Japanese artist Sakae Ozawa will be shown at the ShContemporary 2008, Shanghai. / Courtesy of ShContemporary |
 By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
As interest in Asian contemporary art grows around the world, it seems only natural for an international contemporary art fair to be held in Asia. The ShContemporary 2008, which opens in Shanghai next week, is only in its second year but is hoping to soon become the Art Basel of Asia.
ShContemporary has gathered more than 138 galleries from 27 countries at the Shanghai Exhibition Center. The art fair, which runs from Sept. 10-13, is expected to attract buyers and collectors from all over the world.
ShContemporary director Lorenzo Rudolf said the art fair provides a comprehensive overview of Asian contemporary art and galleries to an international audience, while at the same time bringing Western artists and galleries to Asia.
``The future is in Asia … Asia has a booming economy and strong growth of its art market, but what it needs is an import art market platform to complement the U.S. and European art fairs like Art Basel, Frieze, Art Basel Miami and the Armory Art Show,'' he said last week, in a press conference at the PKM Trinity Gallery, Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul.
Rudolf brings his years of experience as former director of Art Basel, considered the world's biggest art fair, to Shanghai.
``We have a very clear view that in five to six years, we want to bring ShContemporary to the level of Art Basel. If there are top art fairs in Europe and U.S., for Asia, it will be Shanghai. That's what we are building up to. … Our philosophy is to focus on Asian art and Asian identity, and to build a connection between East and West,'' Rudolf said.
While the art fair is held in Shanghai, Rudolf emphasized that ShContemporary is not just focused on Chinese art. ``It is a global art fair. It is the fair that gives (Western) galleries a chance to present themselves to the Asian market, and Asian galleries are shown the door to the international art scene,'' he said.
Ten Korean galleries are participating in ShContemporary this year, namely PKM Gallery, Kukje Gallery, Gallery Hyundai, Park Ryu Sook Gallery, Arario Gallery, Hakgojae Gallery, One and J, Pyo Gallery, Gana Art and Gallery Simon.
When asked why Shanghai was chosen as the venue for the art fair, over other Asian cities, Rudolf said the city ``has a combination of a strong art scene and great lifestyle.''
Aside from the art fair, ShContemporary has two exhibitions, ``Best of Discovery'' featuring young Asian artists; and ``Outdoor Project,'' showcasing installations, performances and sculptures on the grounds of the Shanghai Exhibition Center.
``Best of Discovery'' shines the spotlight on 30 rising artists from China, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan. Eleven specialized curators worked together with ShContemporary to organize the unique museum-style sales exhibition.
Seoul National University Museum of Art curator Chung Shin-young chose three young Korean artists, Jina Park, Clara Shin and Sung Jo-jong, to show their works at the exhibit.
ShContemporary will be open to VIPs and collectors on Sept. 10. It will be open to the public from Sept. 11-13. Visit www.shcontemporary.info.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
