9 exhibitions you shouldn’t miss this spring

Photograph: Yu Zhiming (Yoshitomo Nara at Yuz Museum); Cover image: Yoshitomo Nara, Slight Fever, 2021, Acrylic and collage on canvas, 120 × 110 cm, Collection of the artist, ©YOSHITOMO NARA

The temperature is on the rise, and so is the Shanghai art scene. From a large-scale retrospective of Yoshitomo Nara to a Pablo Picasso exhibition in cooperation with the Museo Casa Natal, here are the best art exhibitions to see this season. 

Notice: Some museums and galleries are temporarily closed this weekend due to pandemic prevention. Do check with the individual venue before planning your trip.

Flyers courtesy venues and promoters. Click to enlarge.

 SHOWING NOW 

Mr Doodle in Love

CHI K11 ART MUSEUM

chi K11 Art Museum presents the first museum-scale exhibition of young British artist Sam Cox, better known by his moniker Mr Doodle worldwide. With a degree in illustration from the University of West England, the self-described 'obsessive-compulsive doodler' made his name in the art world by covering practically everything at his hand, from furniture to walls and clothes with his distinctive boldly outlined squiggles and patternings. You'll also see his new collection celebrating his recent marriage to Mrs Doodle.

, B3, K11 Art Mall, 300 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Huangpi Nan Lu. Until Sun 5 Jun. 98RMB.

The Territories of Water

MUSEUM OF ART PUDONG

The Atelier Jean Nouvel-designed Museum of Art Pudong fills up its fourth floor with an exhibition dedicated to water, presenting more than a hundred works from the collections of the Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac and Foundation François Schneider. Expect to see authentic relics and objects (related to water) made from all continents from the 9th to 20th centuries exhibited together with works created by contemporary artists and artisans. In the meantime, Xu Bing's retrospective is on show all the way into August and that of Cai Guo-Qiang got extended to the end of April.

, 2777 Binjiang Dadao, near Fucheng Lu, Pudong. Until Sun 5 Jun. From 130RMB.

Imaging Nature Before and After Photography

SCÔP

Ever wonder about the relationship between painting and photography? SCOP’s latest exhibition presents 40 natural history paintings by Mr Zeng Xiaolian and nature photography by ten artists across different periods in history. The octogenarian painter has been working for the Kunming Workstation of the Chinese Academy of Science since 1958, producing meticulous sketches of plants that are both scientifically sound and beautiful to look at. 

, 2555 Longteng Dadao, near Longlan Lu. Until Sun 22 May. 40RMB; 30RMB (student).

Kelvin Kyung Kun Park & Oliver Laric

OCAT

Known for showcasing contemporary media art focusing on architecture, OCAT is showing two solo exhibitions this season. Kelvin Kyung Kun Park: When Tigers Used to Smoke features the Korean artists’ latest video and installation works made in 2021. Park’s films explore modern and contemporary Korean history and examine the intertwined relationship between self and others. The solo of Austrian artist Oliver Laric shows a video trilogy he made between 2014-2021, along with five sculptures made by 3D scans and photogrammetry of existing sculptures from museum collections, accessed from the public domain.

, B1, Lane 9, Qufu Lu, near Zhejiang Bei Lu. Until 8 May. Free entry.

For a Bigger Picture

APSMUSEUM

Tucked away in the southern corner on the third floor of the sleek L+ Mall, there’s a pretty legit art space called APSMUSEUM managed by Art Pioneer Studio. The spring season exhibition seeks to expand the definition of collage art by presenting modernist collage works of 12 groups of widely-known contemporary Chinese artists such as Cai Dongdong, Yang Fudong, Ni Youyou, Zhang Enli, Zhou Xiaohu and more. Expect to see an exciting array of experimental works using ‘unusual’ materials such as human hair, found photographs and vintage furniture.

, 301, Third Floor, L+ Mall, 899 Pudong Nan Lu, near Shangcheng Lu. Until 8 May. Free entry. 

Yoshitomo Nara

YUZ MUSEUM

China's first large-scale Yoshitomo Nara solo exhibition showcases 70 paintings, sculptures, installations and 700 never-been-exhibited sketches. The extensive retrospective looks at Yoshitomo Nara's artistic career that spans 37 years. Expect a series of his signature portraits of cartoonish wide-eyed children that made him a household name across the globe. 

, 35 Fenggu Lu, near Longteng Dadao. Sat 5 Mar-Sun 4 Sep. 200RMB.

 OPENING SOON 

Thomas Demand: The Stutter of History

UCCA EDGE

Ever question the reality captured on photographs? The forthcoming exhibition at UCCA Edge invites you to the world of German artist Thomas Demand, where it is a little hard to tell. Originally trained as a sculptor, Demand’s interest soon turned to photography in the early ’90s. Drawing inspiration from photos of political events from the media, the artist would replicate the scene to life-size models using coloured paper and cardboard. Once the pictures are taken, he'd destroy the models, further complicating the notion of reality. This exhibition will show 70 works spanning 25 years of Demand's career, including some of his latest stop-motion films. 

, Second Floor, 88 Xizang Bei Lu, near Qufu Lu. Sat 2 Apr-Sun 19 Jun, 100RMB; 60RMB (early bird). 

Meet Pablo Ruiz Picasso 

MEET YOU MUSEUM

Affiliated with Art Exhibitions China, Meet You Museum has been cooperating with world-renowned art institutions, flying world masterpieces to cities like Beijing and Shanghai. This April will see 200 authentic works by Pablo Picasso travelling all the way from the Museo Casa Natal in Málaga, with the help of Fundación Picasso. Expect to see a dozen watercolour and oil paintings, 140 prints, 50 ceramics and a couple of silver gelatin photography by Robert Capa that documented the private life of arguably one of the most brilliant art prodigies in history. 

, 210 Wenshui Lu, near Wanrong Lu. Sat 2 Apr-Sun 3 Jul. From 158RMB; 108RMB (early bird).

Everything, Everywhere, Everyone, Everytime

MODERN ART MUSEUM (MAM)

In collaboration with Prism COLLECTORS, MAM presents the first solo exhibition of the Spanish-born, London-based artist Coco Capitán in China. Co-curated by Daniele Kim, the collection shows 180 works of the young artist (born. 1992), featuring photos, sketches, manuscripts, and installations from a series of her art projects such as Fashion Without The fashion (2015), Naïvy (2016) and Highway to Disappearance (2017). The exhibition's highlight is from Capitán's 2021 series Middle Point Between My House and China, in which the artist captured China through her lens from multiple trips to the country as a child, a young adult and a working artist.

, 4777 Binjiang Dadao, near Pudian Lu, Pudong. Fri 18 Mar-Sun 12 Jun. 128RMB; 78RMB (early bird).

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