Thanks Smart Shanghai for this review:
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First up is stage候台BACK, making quite the impression with their first show at
new home,Moganshan
Lu. After the artists of 696 Weihai Lu were forced to abandon their warren
of studios, the gallery was left – briefly – homeless until Eastlink stepped in
to save the day. They're now effectively time sharing the space with Susanne
Junker's stageBACK, taking it in turns to present shows. Whilst on paper it
might sound less than ideal, in reality the arrangement affords the German-run
gallery a vastly bigger canvas with which to work.
Currently on show, Lost and Found takes full advantage of
this newfound roominess, with the main area delving off into smaller corridors,
allowing works by six international artists the space their respective
creations demand. As the title suggests, the exhibition explores themes of
(re)discovery and is in itself is a nod to the fortuitous circumstances behind
stageBACK's move, with a particularly awesome installation by Chris Gill
underpinning the idea of the gallery's rebirth: a long, neon-lit tunnel tapers
down to an Alice in Wonderland-esque mirrored door, through to stageBACK's
reincarnation proper. Bright white and disconcerting through its height, the
passage is evocative of those fleeting memories recalled by the near
death-experienced...
Other highlights include fantastical pencil drawings by Shanghai talent
Maleonn, better known for his photography but reinventing his art in this new
series to enchanting effect. Also playing with artistic mediums is
URBANVIDEOSCAPESHANGHAI by Kathryn Gohmert and Xepo: video installations
showing the pair 'tracing' the city onto glass in deft, monochrome strokes
surrounded by the chaotic cacophony that is Shanghai. It's a messy, fascinating
rediscovery and parring down of painting, all presented midst the literal
rubble and detritus of the city. Although far more delicate in her execution,
Xiao Wen Tang is also concerned with reviving old memories, her almost
photographic negative silk paintings acting as portals of nostalgia to
childhoods past. Presented alongside assembled toys, photographs and trinkets,
the works are strikingly beautiful.
