Global public art exhibition unveiled at Shanghai museum

Shanghai Museum East hosted the opening ceremony for an exhibition of shortlisted prototypes from a global public art competition on Saturday.

The exhibition showcased 24 selected works in the forms of sculpture, installation and digital art. Since its launch in June 2023, the competition had received over 600 proposals from more than 40 countries and regions across the globe.

Organized by Shanghai Museum and held by the Shanghai Public Art Coordination Center, the exhibition, set to run until mid-January, is intended to enhance the museum space through public art.

Tang Shifen, Communist Party secretary of Shanghai Museum, said there had been extensive global participation in the competition, and added:"The exhibited works offer a forward-thinking exploration of the museum at its public spaces, encouraging audiences to reconsider the relationships between museums and cities, viewers and exhibits, and the past and future.

“This aligns with the idea of integrating art into everyday life and enriching culture.”

JinJiangbo, executive dean of the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University, and director of the Shanghai Public Art Coordination Center, said, "The exhibited works echo with Shanghai's spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and wisdom.

“These works connect artistic practice with public spaces, reflecting the aspiration of the public for cultural quality and a better life."