Shanghai Exhibition Center is a massive, Stalinist birthday-cake of a building surrounded by newly constructed glass-and-steel skyscrapers in Shanghai's center. Originally know as Palace of the Sino-Soviet Friendship, from Sept. 6 to 9, the exhibition center had within its walls a new, capitalist friend, ShContemporary, a new art fair.
ShContemporary was organized by Bologna Fiere, a successful European fair organizer; directed by Lorenzo Rudolf, former director of Art Basel; and artistically directed by Pierre Hubert, a former Art Basel committee member. Two floors housed about 130 white cubes, of which 27 were occupied by Chinese galleries, 11 by Japanese and the rest divided among exhibitors from 21 other countries, mostly European.
Japanese galleries felt it was necessary to participate because of the need for engagement with the Asian contemporary art world. As Jeffrey Rosen of Taka Ishii Gallery in Tokyo's Kiosumi district said, "Not having some sort of dialogue would be irresponsible." Nearly all were curious about the growing mainland Chinese market and what artists there are doing. What they found were experienced Taiwanese and Hong Kong collectors strolling around and making inquires.