Many believe Shanghai is destined to become a major economic center. But Shen Qibin, director of Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art, believes the city should enact the more important role of becoming an international art center.
Shen and the Zendai Museum of Modern Arts ongoing "Intrude: Art & Life 366" project, encompasses 366 art events throughout 2008, with a different event each day. It is one of the boldest projects in the history of Chinese modern art.
The events, which take the form of exhibitions, site-specific installations, performances, concerts, films and debates, have been created by 100 Chinese and 266 international artists and artistic groups. Their exhibition venues include streets, parks, office buildings, squares, department stores - even local households.
Shen acknowledges that contemporary art is still an alien concept to many Chinese people, which is why he has agreed to curate this mammoth project.
Even though Shen was mentally prepared for misunderstandings before the project started, his endeavor nevertheless produced unexpected results.
One senior citizen had a heart attack when she saw a sculpture dangling precariously from a tower block.
After receiving several complaints, the Shanghai Municipal Law-Enforcement Bureau of City Comprehensive Administration ordered that the sculptures be removed.
Shen says. "Most Chinese people's concept of art is still confined to decoration. It has to do with our art education and is beyond my control. But these works at least provide an opportunity for people to touch contemporary art and also motivates them to question art boundaries".
According to Shen, "Without global vision our construction cannot be objective, and without localization we will lose our roots.” He believes, “China's greatest contribution to the world in the 21st century will not be economic, but cultural."
（英语点津 Helen 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Brendan joined The China Daily in 2007 as a language polisher in the Language Tips Department, where he writes a regular column for Chinese English Language learners, reads audio news for listeners and anchors the weekly video news in addition to assisting with on location stories. Elsewhere he writes Op’Ed pieces with a China focus that feature in the Daily’s Website opinion section.
He received his B.A. and Post Grad Dip from Curtin University in 1997 and his Masters in Community Development and Management from Charles Darwin University in 2003. He has taught in Japan, England, Australia and most recently China. His articles have featured in the Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times, The Asia News Network and in-flight magazines.
