Theaster Gates
Another notable artist whose works are currently on show in Shanghai is Theaster Gates. The 47-year-old US artist has two solo exhibitions, China Cabinet and Bad Neon, taking place in the heart of the city.
China Cabinet, which will end on May 23, involves the reimagining of the space at Prada Rong Zhai, a museum restored from a century-old residential building located on Shaanxi Road North. The exhibition is divided into three chapters that begin unfolding in the rooms on the building's first floor. As visitors are led through his narrative, they will find that the settings change and the artist's role evolves from that of a guest to a ghost to the host of the house.
Bad Neon, which will run until Aug 29 at TANK Shanghai, features artworks by Gates from the collection of Qiao Zhibing, an important collector of contemporary art and the founding director of TANK Shanghai, an art center refurbished from giant fuel tanks in China's first airport.
Inspired by the spatial nature of the venue, Gates has transformed the unique structure of TANK Shanghai into a roller skating rink with a 1980s disco vibe, complete with neon works and sculptures in silver and gold that pay homage to the Chicago Disco Movement.
