Exhibitions

Moods of Spring

More than 80 pieces by Jilin-born artist Wang Jianguo, including oil paintings, collages and mixed media works, are being showcased at this solo exhibition. Born in 1964, Wang graduated from the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts (LAFA) in 1987, and then began his teaching career at Jilin College of the Arts. Sunflowers are an inspiration Wang shares with forebear Vincent van Gogh. Wang likes to convey the essence of sunflowers through bold lines and bright colors that serrate the canvas. Entitled Moods of Spring, Wang's Shanghai exhibition will see a full collection of his Sunflower series, including a number of recent pieces by the artist. It also encompasses Wang's later, more experimental, works that have taken him far from still life and into edgier territory.

Date: Until April 12, 11 am to 7 pm (closed on Mondays)

Venue: Ruyi Oriental Art

如壹艺术馆

Address: 148 Jiangxi Road Middle

江西中路148号

Admission: Free

Call 6321-2498 for details

ECAL Photography

This exhibition features selected photo works by students from École cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL, also known as University of Art and Design Lausanne). This century-old Swiss art institute has nurtured thousands of talented artists and is now one of the top art schools in the world. The organizers are also hosting a photo contest for up-and-coming local photographers on March 21. Critics, photo editors and curators will visit the exhibition and pick the best works from local artists. The photo album of ECAL Photography is also available at the venue.

Date: Until May 11, 10 am to 10 pm

Venue: 10 Corso Como

Address: North Annex, Wheelock Square, 1717 Nanjing Road West

南京西路1717号会德丰国际广场北院

Admission: Free

Call 6286-1072 for details

The Chinese Shadows

Born in 1952 in Naples, Italian contemporary artist Francesco Clemente will hold his second solo exhibition in the city this month. During his first visit to China, Clemente created a dynamic series of 13 unique hand-painted monotypes, utilizing watercolor, gouache and ink on traditional Chinese paper mounted to silk. For the upcoming The Chinese Shadows exhibition, Clemente has created a cohesive, sequential body of works that address the metaphysical or mythological self and the ancient Chinese philosophical principles of the universe: yin (associated with the female, earth, dark, and cold) and yang (male, heaven, heat, and light) as a composite of the human spirit.

Date: Until April 13, Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 6pm; Sunday, midday to 6 pm; Monday by appointment

Venue: James Cohan Gallery

Address: 1/F, Bldg 1, 170 Yueyang Road 岳阳路170号1号楼1楼

Admission: Free

Call 5466-0826 for details

Outside Within: New Works by Tamen

This exhibition will feature new works of oil on canvas by the established Chinese artist collective Tamen, composed of Lai Shengyu and Yang Xiaogang. The solo exhibition explores new landscapes that verge on metaphysical discourses on identity, context, and cultural knowledge. The artworks present vast open scenes with a sense of the philosophical, while displaying the same eerie serenity and complex thresholds that have come to define Tamen's aesthetic. Outside Within challenges perspective and boundaries. Lacking formal walls, Tamen continues to create windows: thresholds between the past and future, inside and out, present and possibility.

Date: April 25 to June 29, 11 am to 7 pm (closed on Mondays)

Venue: Art+ Shanghai Gallery

Address: Embankment Building, 370 Beisuzhou Road

北苏州路370号河滨大楼

Admission: Free

Call 5608-6067 for details

Event

Film Screening at Sprout

Sprout Lifestyle is hosting a free screening of The Cure Is, a transformational film about how every human body is brilliantly designed for vitality and longevity. It addresses questions such as why health and life expectancy gradually decline, whether we've lost our connection to the natural way of living, and whether there is a powerful and effective means of addressing disease? Woven with testimonials from top scientists, doctors and evolutionary leaders, the amazing true stories in the film create a mind-blowing journey of self-discovery that will radically shift the way you look at health and disease forever. The film is in English and has no subtitles. Reservations are required via e-mails at events@sproutlifestyle.com.

Date: April 23, 7 pm

Venue: Sprout Lifestyle

Address: Unit 412, Surpass Court, 570 Yongjia Road

永嘉路570号永嘉庭412座

Admission: Free

Visit http://www.sproutlifestyle.com/ for details

On Stage

Manhattan Symphonie Shanghai Concert

The Manhattan Symphonie was founded in 2005 by Gregory Singer who follows in his father's (Conductor Jacques Singer) footsteps. This orchestra is comprised of musicians eager to play music without any limitations. The members are young virtuoso musicians eager to make their mark, as well as seasoned veterans of the three Lincoln Center orchestras including the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. The orchestra has performed numerous concerts, outreach clinics, master classes and fundraisers with many soloists. The orchestra made its Carnegie Hall debut in 2005 and continues to perform primarily throughout the New York Tri-State area. In 2009 the orchestra was invited to perform a series of concerts throughout China to celebrate 30 years of good relationship between the US and China.

Date: April 11, 7:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center 上海东方艺术中心

Address: 425 Dingxiang Road

丁香路425号

Call 6854-1234 for details

Witness For the Prosecution

Agatha Christie adapted this play for the stage from her novel of the same name. The show was hugely successful in London and Broadway before it was made into an Oscar-nominated film. The Chinese version of this play is performed by Shanghai's leading theater group, Shanghai Mousetrap Drama Studio. Renowned theater producer Lü Liang from Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre is the artistic director.

Date: Until April 24, 7:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre 上海话剧艺术中心

Address: 288 Anfu Road

安福路288号

Tickets: 150 to 300 yuan

Call 6473-4567 for details

Gala 2014 Concert

Set up in 2004 in Beijing, Gala has become an acclaimed rock band among both critics and fans in China. Their albums include the English Young for You released in 2004, which highlighted the unbounded enthusiasm of youth, and the Chinese Zhui Meng Chi Zi Xin in 2011 that has encouraged numerous people with its touching and uplifting lyrics. Crowned as one of the best rock bands in China, Gala is embarking on its 2014 China tour to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Date: May 24, 7:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center 东方艺术中心

Address: 425 Dingxiang Road

丁香路425号

Tickets: 80 yuan to 480 yuan

Call 400-880-2880 for details

Club for Five

Founded in Helsinki in 2001, Club for Five is a five-member contemporary a cappella group, specializing in vocally imitating the sounds of musical instruments. Club for Five sing in both English and Finnish. Their hits include renditions of Finnish folk tunes and covers of pop songs. The band released their first album Ensi-ilta in 2004 and their second album Uni was released two years after. The 2007 Christmas album Rekiretki was awarded album of the year in Finland and won The Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards in 2008.

Date: April 30, 7 pm to 9:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center 上海东方艺术中心

Address: 425 Dingxiang Road

丁香路425号

Tickets: 100 to 880 yuan

Call 400-650-5050 for details

Nightlife

The Black Dahlia Murder China Tour

Founded in 2000, The Black Dahlia Murder is an American metal band from Michigan. Their name is derived from the 1947 unsolved murder case of aspiring young actress Elizabeth Short. The band's lineup features vocalist Trevor Strnad, guitarists Brian Eschbach and Ryan Knight, drummer Alan Cassidy, and bassist Max Lavelle. The Shanghai gig is The Black Dahlia Murder's second leg of their Chinese tour.

Date: April 22, 8 pm to 10 pm

Venue: Mao Livehouse

Address: 3/F, 308 Chongqing Road South 重庆南路308号3楼

Tickets: 230 yuan presale and 330 yuan at the door

Visit http://www.guitarchina.com/ for details