Top 10 Shanghai Art Exhibitions in April

By Andrew Chin and Erica Martin

Shinseungback Kimyonghun : Stone 

Korean artist duo Shinseungback Kimyonghun present their meditations on humanity and technology in this exhibit at the German Consulate's Goethe Institute. It focuses on man's search for self-improvement, which can involve imagining ourselves to be animals or even inanimate objects. The above photo is from their project Captcha Tweet, which sends your tweets in the Captcha technique used to distinguish humans from computers so that, at least in theory, only other humans can read your tweet. 

Until April 28. Goethe Intitute, 102A, Cross Tower, 318 Fuzhou Lu, by Shandong Zhong Lu 福州路318号102A，近山东中路

Here’s Looking at You!: A Generation of Chinese Photographic Portraits before the Selfie

The latest exhibition at the Shanghai Center of photography brings together the work of three very different photographers who all focus on portraits shot in China. French artist Thomas Sauvin recycles discarded images shot in Beijing in the '80s, while American Daniel Traub presents a series on African expats in Guangzhou and Hefei-born Liu Tao chronicles the lives of his neighbors in his hometown.

Opens April 22. Shanghai Center of Photography, 2555-1 Longteng Dadao, by Fenggu Lu 龙腾大道2555-1号, 近丰谷路 (6428-9516, www.scop.org.cn) 

Liu Bolin: Hacker Art 

Esteemed gallerist Magda Danysz expands from Yangpu to a new location on the Bund. The debut show is a solo retrospective by famed Chinese artist Liu Bolin, who is known for his illusion-creating performance pieces in which he meticulously blends himself into the background of a photo or scene.

Opens April 12. Magda Danysz Gallery at The Independents House. 256 Beijing Dong Lu, by Jiangxi Zhong Lu 北京东路256号，近江西中路

Pieces

Vanguard Gallery puts on a group show exhibiting the works of five artists, Chen Xingye, Mu Xue, Ye Linghan, Yuki Onodera and Xiao Jiang, who work in the medium of paper. The artists depict a diverse range of subjects, from ape and human similarities (Chen Xingye) to anamorphic animation (Ye Linghan). 

Opens April 9.  Vanguard Gallery, A204, Bldg 4, 50 Moganshan Lu, by Changhua Lu 莫干山路50号4座A204室，近昌化路

He An: Dark Purple

Wuhan native He An exhibits a collection of new works at West Bund's Madein Gallery. He deals in steel and iron structures that give off cold or heat. According to the artist: “If you are able to segregate yourself from reality, you will see cold and hot changes everywhere, as well as temperature and spectrum of substances.”

Until April 30. Madein Gallery, Rm 106, 2879 Longteng Dadao, by Fenggu Lu龙腾大道2879号106室, 近丰谷路 (www.madeingallery.com)

Yang Yongliang: Time Immemorial

Originally trained in Chinese traditional painting and calligraphy, Shanghainese artist Yang Yongliang has become renowned for his eerie black-and-white digital works that combine the aesthetic of Chinese ink painting with gritty urban development. Matthew Liu Fine Arts showcases some of his latest works.

Until May 28. Matthew Liu Fine Arts, 2/F, 115 Yuanmingyuan Lu, by Beijing Dong Lu 圆明园路115号2楼，近北京东路

Liang Shaoji: Sha Sha Sha

Chinese artist and reclusive mountain-dweller Liang Shaoji debuts his latest collection of raw silk works. He has been working with silkworms and combining art and biology in unexpected ways for the past 28 years, which has led to several of the breathtaking pieces on display at ShanghART.
Until May 6. ShanghART Gallery West Bund, Building 10, 2555 Longteng Dadao, by Fenggu Lu 龙腾大道2555号10号楼，近丰谷路 (www.shanghart.com)

Please fasten your seat belt as we are experiencing some turbulence

David Kordansky Gallery and Leo Xu team up for this collaborative group exhibition featuring artists from both of the galleries’ programs. "Please fasten your seat belt as we are experiencing some turbulence" takes inspiration from global affairs featuring works by Kathryn Andrews, Andrea Büttner, Chen Wei, Heman Chong, Sam Gilliam, Zach Harris, Evan Holloway, Rashid Johnson, Gabriel Lester, Li Qing, Liu Shiyuan, Pixy Liao, Jonas Lund, Tala Madani, Chris Martin, Torbjørn Rødland, Sissel Tolaas, Tom of Finland, Wei Jia, Ming Wong, and Betty Woodman. 
Until Apr 30. Leo Xu Projects, Bldg 3, 49 Fuxing Xi Lu, by Yongfu Lu 复兴西路49号3号楼, 近永福路 (3461 1245, www.leoxuprojects.com) 

SOW

ShanghART reopens its m50 branch with this group show featuring works from Jin Yanan, Liu Yi, Xiao Longhua and Zheng Wenxin (see above). SOW stands for Spring Ocean Wave and features a variety of works spanning video to paintings, installations to sculpture.
Until Apr 30. ShanghART (m50), Bldg 16, 50 Moganshan Lu, by Changhua Lu 莫干山路50号16座，近昌化路

Kaws: Where the End Starts

Yuz Museum is the second stop in this hit career retrospective of the pop art star. The Brooklyn-based artist cut his teeth in the city's grafitti scene, developing a style of remaking popular pop culture figures like The Simpsons and Mickey Mouse. KAWS has collaborated with Uniqlo on limited edition tees, remade MTV's Moonman award, designed album covers for The Clipse and recently took over Yorkshire Sculpture Park with his popular 'Companion' character.

Until Aug 13. Yuz Museum, 35 Fenggu Lu, by Longteng Dadao 丰谷路35号，近龙腾大道

[All image rights are reserved to the artists and galleries.]

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