9 art exhibits in Shanghai that kids (and adults) will love
We're mid-way through September and holidays are on the horizon – first Mid-Autumn Festival this weekend and then the week-long National Day Holiday aka 'Golden Week' at the start of October. Already planning to stay in town and looking for things to do with the kids? From Mickey Mouse to Eric Carle to Joan Miró, let your little Picasso's imagination run wild at these colourful exhibitions.
Flyers courtesy venues and promoters. Click to enlarge.
Mickey: The True Original & Ever Curious Exhibition
YUZ MUSEUM
Get your fix of Mickey Mouse at this Disney x UCCA Lab collab exhibition. The immersive exhibition features Mickey Mouse-inspired works of art, including painting, calligraphy, sculpture, installations and digital works, created by 50 renowned artists from China and abroad.
📍Yuz Museum, 35 Fenggu Lu, near Longteng Dadao. Until Sun 10 Oct. 150RMB; 100RMB (children under 1.2m).
Jacky Tsai: Life Fantasy
FOSUN FOUNDATION SHANGHAI
Got teens who love pop art? See works that merge Western painting techniques with Chinese elements at London-based Chinese artist Jacky Tsai’s exhibition. The artist also has a good rapport with pop singer-songwriter Jay Chou, so much so that one of the works exhibited here, the eight-metre-long painting ‘Fantasy Fantasy’, was inspired by Chou’s 20-year musical career – another reason to check it out.
📍Fosun Foundation Shanghai, 600 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu, near Dongmen Lu. Until Thu 7 Oct. 60RMB.
The Playful World of Eric Carle
KIDDY ART MUSEUM
A great show for the youngest members of your crew, catch this show while you can – it closes early October. Dedicated to the brilliant world of children’s book author and illustrator Eric Carle (The very Hungry Caterpillar and more), the immersive and interactive exhibit has plenty of space for children to play, explore and create.
📍Kiddy Art Museum, Fifth Floor, BFC NOW, 600 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu, near Dongmen Lu. Until Fri 8 Oct. 99RMB (one adult and one kid).
Tintin and Hergé
POWER STATION OF ART
Your kiddos may be too young to have heard of Tintin, but a classic will always remain a classic. Celebrating the 92nd anniversary of The Adventures of Tintin, Power Station of Art teams up with Hergé Museum for the ‘world’s largest’ exhibition of Tintin and its creator Belgium-born illustrator Hergé (the pen name of Georges Remi).
📍Power Station of Art, 200 Huayuangang Lu, near Miaojiang Lu. Until Sun 31 Oct. 60RMB.
teamLab Borderless Shanghai
Autumn not only brings falling leaves to Shanghai streets but also to teamLab Borderless, where you can catch fantastic immersive digital artworks like ‘Memory of Topography’ that simulates the changes of the four seasons, as well as ‘Forest of Resonating Lamps – One Stroke, Autumn Mountain’ on show until the end of November.
📍teamLab Borderless Shanghai, Unit C-2, 100 Huayuangang Lu, near Bansongyuan Lu. Until Tue 30 Nov. 229RMB; 199RMB (kids); 209RMB (students).
Kaos Trip: A Color Journey by Okuda San Miguel
BUND 18 JIUSHI ART GALLERY
Looking for an exhibition that guarantees smiles on your kid’s face? The latest exhibition at Bund 18 Jiushi Art Gallery might be just the ticket. A fantastic and seriously bright show from Spanish street artist Okuda San Miguel, the exhibition presents a collection of his iconic works defined by psychedelic colours and symbolic patterns.
📍Bund 18 Jiushi Art Gallery, Second Floor, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Jiujiang Lu. Until Sun 24 Oct. 68RMB.
Quotidianist: MR Solo Show
HOW ART MUSEUM
Colourful paintings and sculptures that look inspired by Japanese anime: welcome to the world Japanese artist MR. The works are seriously kawaii to look at, but dig a little deeper and you’ll see MR uses his art to reflect on current events and issues.
📍HOW Art Museum, First-Third Floors, No 1, Lane 2277, Zuchongzhi Lu, near Zhonghuan Lu. Until Sun 21 Nov. 130RMB; 150RMB (all exhibitions).
Cat Art by Shu Yamamoto
BRIDGE 8 ART SPACE
One for kitty fans, it’s all about cats at Bridge 8 Art Space right now. Japanese artist Shu Yamamoto has replaced familiar subjects from world-renowned artworks with heads of cats – think Vermeer’s ‘The Girl with a Pearl Earring’ and da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ (alongside 60 other paintings). Just don't blame us if your kiddo thinks every classic paintings has a cat in it.
📍Bridge 8 Art Space, 1247 Nan Suzhou Lu, near Xinchang Lu. Until Thu 7 Oct. 98RMB.
Joan Miró: Women, Birds, Stars
MUSEUM OF ART PUDONG
Get up close and personal with the works of iconic Surrealist-fantasy artist Joan Miró, who’s often playful paintings and sculptures are currently on display at the newly opened Museum of Art Pudong, in association with Barcelona’s modern art museum Fundació Joan Miró. Your little ones will love the bright colours and unfettered imagination in his works.
📍Museum of Art Pudong, 2777 Binjiang Dadao, near Fucheng Lu. Until Sun 7 Nov. 100RMB; 150RMB (Sat & Sun).
COMING SOON
Becoming Andy Warhol
UCCA EDGE
This comprehensive exhibition of the legendary pop artist at UCCA edge includes nearly 400 drawings, paintings, photographs and films from the The Andy Warhol Museum – more than enough to get your teens psyched (and brilliantly bright for little ones too).
📍UCCA Edge, Second Floor, 88 Xizang Bei Lu, near Qufu Lu. Sat 6 Nov-Sun 6 Mar 2022. Price tba.
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