group open studio | SAPH SHANGHAI

thank you to everyone that came to the group open studio at the swatch art peace hotel last week and made the entire evening so visually charged, unforgettable, and such a perfect way to wrap up the last few days of my time in shanghai.

i am proud to have worked alongside such an amazing group of artists, who fulfilled their separate artist residencies and realized their own work during the same time i realized mine. it has been a pleasure be able to show the results of my research and and energy during these last few winter months as part of this saph event with the work of the following talented people: alexandre and john gailla, elena monzo, dominique othenin-girard, yuan jinhua, chiara luzzana, sofia ortiz, zhu ye, sandro del pistoia, juliana ong, george van wetering, mujin, jovanna  tosello, kwang-ju son, maria paz, phillip reed, linda spaman, and michael maurissens.

four of my selected drawings made during my stay.

sandro del pistoia

george van wetering aka Monokino

elena monzo

artist residency | swatch art peace hotel

work by alec von bargen

taking a short break from the berlin winter and dropping back into shanghai briefly: i will be participating as one of the artists in residence at the swatch art peace hotel until 22 january, 2015.

although the time will go by too quickly, it is wonderful to be back in the mainland working alongside the other 17 artists here on the bund again after my initial residency here in 2011.

the other current fellow artists in residence include alexandre and john gailla, elena monzo, dominique othenin-girard, yuan jinhua, chiara luzzana, sofia ortiz, zhu ye, sandro del pistoia, juliana ong, george van wetering, bao lixin, jovanna  tosello, son kwang-ju, maria pazcontreras buzeta, phillip reed, and heidi bryce.

it’s so refreshing to see how many positive changes have happened since i was last working in this building three years ago. looking very forward to this time of heavy creative focus while working in an old and much-loved home.

secret vii | THE ESSENCE OF RANDOM

 
secret vii did its last pop-up exhibition as a group this last week at shanghai art space. some photos taken by susanne junker from the night are here.

the ICS crew were there conducting interviews which are planned to air on june 15, 8:30 pm.

see more information on stageBACK’s website here.  

莫干山路120再创 造

the rubble site – 120 moganshan road in shanghai, china – is located right next to the main art district in shanghai: m50. just over 10 years ago, artists and galleries moved to an old textile factory located at this address. this complex was threatened with demolition for years while newly build high rises changed the surrounding of this art oasis. eventually it became more commercial over the years and could therefore secure its existence. the modern apartment buildings and new galleries also had other neighbors, the residents at number 120. small lane houses meandered in narrow alleys, with laundry drying above our heads as people cook their meals in the entry ways of their nearby homes. the inhabitants lived in this area for many decades – even when m50 was already established with its cafes and bookshops. now it is over. 120 moganshan road has been destroyed. most residents are gone, but lost shoes can be found in the rubble, while glimpses of wallpaper are visible on certain walls from the exterior of buildings.

M120: MOGANSHAN REUSED is an example of the positive exchange that can occur between people from different parts of the world and backgrounds by using art as a common language. before everything is gone. before everything is uniform. take note: art doesn’t need white walls.”

“这片碎石所 在——中国上海的莫干山路120号，紧邻上海著名的艺术区 ——‘M50’或‘莫干山路50’。10年前，艺术家们和画廊们陆续搬入这里的一个老厂区。长 久来，这个老厂区一直饱受周边越建越高的商业大厦的吞食。逐渐地，连这片绿洲本身也不得不变地愈加商业化以维持其存在。 这块现代的 艺术区和高楼大厦也有着另一些邻居，那就是居住在120号的上海老居民。那是一个典型的传统的中国老居民区，如同我们在欧洲时可以想象的。小巧的房子挤在弄堂两边；衣服在我们头顶晾晒；居民们 在家门口做饭。这些居民就这样居住了几十年，甚至当M50建起他们的小咖啡 店和书店，以及来了络绎不绝的欧洲艺术客们。然而，它要结束了。莫干山路120在拆毁中，并即将完全消失。大部分的居民已经离开，但在一面 墙上的涂鸦仍在尖叫：“哈哈！我们还在这里！”鞋子零落在我们脚下的碎石间。墙纸也依稀可见。老上海活的场景！

总体上说，艺 术作品和艺术家们试图要以各自的方式去体验眼前这一发生中的都市形态。事实上，真正的艺术家和创造性的人们总是抽到最短的那根签，我 们的工作空间被剥夺或变得昂贵让我们不得不搬离。“莫干山路120再创造！”提供这样一个可能性，即世界来自不同地方的艺术家在这样一个发生着得形态里用艺术进行沟通，并 对我们这些艺术创造者们的将来提出：在一切消失前。在一切变得程式化前。请看到！展览艺术并不一定都要在精致的白墙前.”

see the online catalogue of M120 on the galerie eigenheim’s website here.

M120: Moganshan Reused

this sunday, 18 july [4 – 11 pm], m50’s post-apocalyptic sister-showspace, m120, will be hosting an exhibition of multi-disciplinary work from many different local and foreign artists exploring the ideas of destruction, creation, collaboration, genius, ecstasy and doom amidst piles of rubble and demolition.

it would be fantastic to see you there.