What to expect from Shanghai art in the Year of the Rooster

It was a huge year for the creative industry in Shanghai with 2016 seeing more art fairs, international expos, local talents and travelling foreign artists than ever before. As the popularity of emerging Chinese artists continues to blow up across the Mainland and beyond, the city’s art scene shows no signs of slowing down. The art directors of three of the city’s most exciting galleries look forward to what the Year of the Rooster has in store.

Magda Danysz, MD Gallery

This gallery is a hidden gem in the heart of Yangpu district, showcasing varied collections of contemporary art from both Chinese and international artists.

‘This will be a very special year. Some news will come as a special surprise that I have to keep under wraps for the moment, but first on our programme, we will reopen after Chinese New Year with a solo show by Liu Bolin, who has a great variety of works. Usually people know him for his Hidden in the City photographs, but he has so much more to show: sculptures, neon artworks, drawings. Next season will also host the much-awaited first show in China by New York-based duo FAILE. They have an amazing scope of work, with impressive mixed media artworks. I know the public here will love them.’

Caroline Boudehen, Art+ Shanghai Gallery

A bright art space by the Bund elegantly showcasing the works of emerging and established Chinese contemporary artists.

‘In 2017 Art+ Shanghai Gallery will celebrate its ten-year anniversary and various exhibitions are scheduled for the year ahead, starring Shen Hua, Zhang Wei and Seungmo Park. Art+ also has some surprises to offer, both in Shanghai and in its dedicated space in Singapore – new, promising artists have recently joined the gallery and will be announced soon. And as for our hopes for the New Year… how about winning all three of the awards at the Time Out Love Shanghai Awards 2017?!’

Steven Harris, M97 Gallery

An exciting gallery educating the masses on quality photography and unique creative processes.

‘We started the year with young Hunan-based artist Huang Xiaoliang’s new work in the Project Space titled East Window. Also in the downstairs gallery space we will open Chengdu-based artist Adou’s new series of black and white photograms. Both these artists are some of the best talents working in contemporary photography right now in China, so I am very happy to be starting 2017 with their exhibitions.

'In January we exhibited for the first time at the new Photofairs San Francisco art fair (the sister fair to Shanghai Photofairs), showing works from our Chinese artists to the fantastic photographic arts community in San Francisco and the States in general. This is something we will focus more on in 2017: taking artists overseas as well to keep introducing the great work that is currently coming out of China and try to help close the knowledge gap that exists.’