(smartshanghai.com)
Updated: 2007-04-03 10:21

[Photo by smartshanghai.com]

Shanghai can be a pretty soul-sucking city. So often does creativity bow to profitability in the city's clubs, theatres, live music venues and art galleries, and so prevalent is the practice of exploiting the concepts of others to capitalize on a perceived trend, that even the mere mention of someone trying to do something "new and creative" can be revolting.

I mean, God, just look what they did to our lovely 100 kwai all-you-can drink nights. They used to be so pure.

Of course there are a few exceptions. There are a few DJs, promoters, artists, curators and galleries who don't care all that much about making wads of cash or being community celebrities. There are even those who give back to the community directly and enable others to try out new ways to express themselves and their scant number makes them all the more important.

The Studio is a new gallery space that is focusing on providing an area for artists of all levels and mediums to interact with one another and create together. As well as providing a space for local artists, The Studio is also offering a variety of art classes to artists of all levels (geared towards beginners mostly), but more on that below.

As locally- based graphic designer Sarah Sculley describes it, The Studio is "a painting studio, a design studio, a teaching facility, a photographic dark room, a gallery, and a hang-out." Sarah, one of the five founders, elaborates on the concept:

What is The Studio?
The studio is a creative space. It is a space to inspire and to create. It's open to everyone - people who are creative and those that think they might be creative but haven't had the chance to explore.

Who is involved and what do they do?
Myself - Sarah - I am a graphic designer and run my freelance business out of the space. So I am here most of the time. I am from Australia and have been here for about a year and a half. I have had two solo art exhibitions here in Shanghai. I was teaching design at the Design College Australia before moving to Shanghai.

Nicky- She is from New Zealand. She is a photographer and fine artist. She is also working in the studio most of the time. She will be running the classes. She has had one solo photographic exhibition and has been here a year. She creates some amazing portrait artwork... you've got to see it!!!!

Aric- He is from Texas and is more of a silent partner. He's a major supporter of the arts and has given us financial backing. He is a radio producer and has worked on projects such as Soul Fire Radio, Gig Shanghai and Chinese pod.com. He's been here 2 years. He just hangs around... we'll teach him how to paint in the near future...

Jutta- She is from Germany and has been here about a year. She is a furniture and product designer. She is a wizz with the saw and kept all the workers amused with her unusual talent! She made all the furniture in the space.

Alonso- He is from Mexico and has a t-shirt company he is building called permanent press. He’s been here about a year. He's also a tap dance teacher as Jazz du Funk... AND he's in charge of making sure no one breaks the piano here!!!!

We all have our own directions... the studio is a place to push them forward.

What was the inspiration behind the project and how did it all come together?
Since moving to Shanghai Nicky and I were finding it difficult to be inspired. The only time we felt inspired and creative was when we were looking at each others works. So, why not work in the same space? We talked about this with a couple of different people and others needed the space for different reasons - all creative. Jutta needed space to make furniture. Alonso needed a 'presence' for his t-shirt business. And Aric needed somewhere cool to take clients. So we built the space. It's a big space... and everyone else seemed really enthusiastic... so we decided to involve everyone. Anyone who wanted to creative can come in and... well, create! Or just hang out...

   1 2   

   1 2