On Stage

The Peony Pavilion

An updated version of The Peony Pavilion, one of China's best-loved classical operas, met the audience in Shanghai once again at Kezhi Garden in Zhujiajiao, Qingpu district. The romantic work, written by playwright Tang Xianzu in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is one of the most important works of Kunqu Opera and first performed in 1598. This version features the combination of the live performance in real settings, in which the traditional Chinese opera and the architecture fuse together. It has been adapted and directed by Tan Dun, one of the most iconic contemporary Chinese composers, who is best known for his Academy Award-winning score for the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Huang Doudou, one of China's most prominent dancers, choreographed the drama, and Zhang Jun, a well-known Kunqu Opera artist, played the hero.

Date: May 25, June, 1, 15, 22, 29, 6:15 pm

Venue: Kezhi Garden 课植园

Address: 119 Xijing Street, Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu district 青浦区朱家角镇西井街119号

Tickets: 180 to 880 yuan

Call 6217-2426 or 6217-3055 for details

Events

The Breath of Animals

Swiss artists Yves Netzhammer and Bernd Schurer are joining hands to present their latest exhibition in Shanghai's K11 Chi gallery. Entitled The Breath of Animals, the exhibition breaks the convention and is going to take place at the fire escape of the venue. On the night before the opening of the exhibition, the artists will have a lecture at Minsheng Art Museum to talk about the stories behind their artworks and their understandings of space and time.

Date: Wednesday, 7 pm

Venue: Minsheng Art Museum

民生现代美术馆

Address: 570 Huaihai Road West

淮海西路570号

Admission: Free

Call 6282-8729 for details

Theories on Chinese Contemporary Art of the 1980s

Shanghai Baoshan International Folk Arts Exposition invites 10 art critics and scholars from home and abroad to discuss the history of Chinese contemporary art in the 1980s. Professor Hagi Kenaan from the Department of Philosophy, Tel Aviv University, professor JP Park from Department of Art and Art History, University of Colorado Boulder, and Wang Chenjie, executive director of Shanghai Himalayas Museum will be attending the seminar.

Date: May 23 to 24, 9 am to 4 pm

Venue: Shanghai Baoshan International Folk Arts Exposition

上海宝山国际民间艺术博览馆

Address: 4788 Hutai Road

沪太路4788号

Admission: Free

Call 6678-7855 for more detailed

information

Exhibitions

Gao Weigang Solo Show

Beijing-based artist Gao Weigang is having his second solo show at Shanghai Gallery of Art. Entitled No Way, the artist has extended one of his signature sculptural forms throughout the gallery, in the form of a monumental installation, bringing the gallery space into full play and expanding the scope of his oeuvre. As an undulating mirrored stair form weaves its way through the gallery architecture, the artist submerges the viewers into an endless web of reflections, which distort, unsettle and reconfigure people's spatial logic. A number of new sculptures and mixed media paintings are also on view. Gao, the winner of 2011 Art Future prize at Art HK, is a versatile artist who works in a wide range of media.

Date: Until June 30, 11 am to 9 pm

Venue: Shanghai Gallery of Art

沪申画廊

Address: 3/F, Three on the Bund,

3 Zhongshandongyi Road

中山东一路3号外滩三号3楼

Admission: Free

Call 6321-5757 or 6323-3355 for details

Turbulent

Artist Xu Zhen's exhibition Turbulent consists of black, abstract, cage-like patterns paintings of various sizes and shapes, all created with black spray paint from a set point towards the borders of the canvas. Nozzles remain on the work, indicating its creation process. This simple action and combination provides a new way of appreciating abstract painting. Xu participated in the 49th Venice Biennale in 2001 and won the prize for Best Artist at the China Contemporary Art Award in 2004.

Date: Until July 31, 10 am to 10 pm

Venue: Bund 18 Temporary Art Space 外滩十八号临时艺术空间

Address: 1/F, 18 Zhongshandongyi Road 中山东一路18号1楼

Admission: Free

Call 6323-8099 Ext 3002 for details