Bringing together 36 works by 33 artist groups from 14 countries, among which nearly 70 percent are newly commissioned, the 9th China Shanghai Jing'an International Sculpture Exhibition, or 2026 JISP, kicked off on Sept 24, reimagining public art across Shanghai's core downtown area.
Running through the end of the year and spanning the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, the exhibition dissolves gallery boundaries, weaving art into the urban fabric with installations set across parks, commercial hubs and waterfronts.
The JISP is a flagship international cultural brand of Jing'an, and was launched in 2010. This year's edition, themed "Shapes of Becoming", explores the dynamic symbiosis of nature, cities, people, and technology.
"Sculpture is no longer confined to traditional physical forms. Images, sound, light, and digital media, as well as audience and environmental participation, can become artwork," says Jin Heyun, director of the exhibition's curatorial partner UCCA Lab.
Anchored in Jing'an Sculpture Park, the exhibition spans 28 locations across the district. Nearly 60 percent of the sites showcase international works, featuring artists from around the world, including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. The show strongly emphasizes deepening connections between artists and Shanghai's urban landscape.
The lineup features prominent names such as British Turner Prize winner Tony Cragg; Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, renowned for his light and nature-inspired practices; and French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel, whose works are held in the permanent collection of France's Palace of Versailles.
Chinese artist Liu Wei is presenting his new commission Reconciliation alongside his concurrent public artwork for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, marking a rare simultaneous international showcase for a contemporary Chinese artist.
New media innovation and daynight dual viewing experiences stand as defining highlights of this year's show.
UK collective Marshmallow Laser Feast presents Of The Oak, the JISP's first outdoor new media piece, blending digital imagery, sound and immersion to explore humanity's place within natural ecosystems.
Light artist Eliyar has created Dream Shell, a nighttime-exclusive visual iteration of a popular work retained from the 2024 edition. Many artworks shift in appearance as daylight fades, aligning with the 2026 International Audio-Visual Art Experience Exhibition to extend artistic experiences into the evening.
"We weave art into the urban landscape, transforming the district into an open-air museum," says Xu Jian, director of Jing'an's Planning and Natural Resources Bureau.
The exhibition delivers five sections of public programming, including guided tours, workshops, art fairs, and open calls, with the second edition of citywide photography and youth creativity competitions running throughout. New additions this year include a pop-up design merchandise store, an immersive art fair, and AI-powered robot-guided tours.
Shi Yu, deputy head of Jing'an district, says that over the past 16 years, the district has leveraged public art to drive urban renewal, advancing ecological improvement and cultural development in tandem.
The exhibition, she says, will allow people to encounter creativity in everyday spaces and feel the district's humanistic warmth and innovative energy.
