Commodified China

"I want to be plastic," Andy Warhol once said. This bizarre wish uttered by the ever-outlandish artist captures the essence of plastic—a malleable material with innumerable applications that can be shaped into just about any product.

Although Warhol never actually managed the transformation into plastic, he did expand the definition of art by creating works that incorporated quotidian products. Shanghai's Art+Shanghaigallery is excited to show a collection of Warhol's works, which are making their first ever appearance in China. Starting Saturday, the gallery at the end of a lane on Fuxing Lu will exhibit some of Warhol's most recognizable pieces including a screenprint of American contemporary dance icon Martha Graham as well as two "Enrico Coveri" acrylic and silkscreen inks on canvas, the very last pieces The King of Pop Artproduced before his death in 1987.

So much of Andy Warhol was the image he created, the parties and the circles of celebrities, intellectuals and bohemians that he graced. It's difficult to think of the artist without conjuring up images of him in his silver wig, surrounded by admirers at Studio 54. To celebrate Warhol's first opening in China, Urban Blastdecided to organize a Warhol-caliber party, which will take place on Friday night at Villa ORO. In homage to "The King," this party in the splendidly renovated 1930s Villa will screen a video installation of the work. Urban Blast promises some other Warhol-related surprises for all party-goers, which will be revealed during the course of the evening. Like any party the artist himself might have attended, this celebration will continue into the wee hours of the morning. So, if you're feeling energetic try to stay awake and swing by Art+Shanghai the following day for a viewing of the actual works.