Dial 62761232: Portable Exhibition

Time: September 10th to 20th, 2004

Co-Curator: Yang Zhenzhong, Tang Maohong, Jin Feng, Huang Kui, Xu Zhen
Organizer: Bizart Art Center
Co-organizer: Oriental Morning Post, Shanghai Lin Yang Courier Company

62761232 is the telephone number for a courier in Shanghai. From the 10th to the 20th, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, no matter where you are in the city you will be able to have an exhibition brought directly to you. The exhibition is curated by a team of artists from Shanghai and will collect artworks from 40 artists from all around China.

What is the position of contemporary art in Shanghai? In this landscape of economic and social changes, contemporary art is under a continuum of change. With this unusual art event, we break the common exhibition mode and will address a common problem the public faces when confronting an exhibition.

This “portable” show was made possible with the assistance of thirteen messengers, who worked for a local messenger service, equipped with bicycles and scooters. Preparing these young messengers was the most interesting part of this exhibition/performance piece: for months they were taught how to do a performance, explain a conceptual work and exhibit and comment on contemporary artworks for the benefit of their future audiences.

The messenger who delivered his or her exhibition package took on the role of guide to the event. The artworks were delivered in a random order: a sack containing the numbers corresponding to the forty works on display was given to the customer/visitor, whose exploration of the exhibition thus unfolded randomly as well, and somewhat ritualistically.

Participating Artists: Shao Yi, Yang Qingqing, Fei Pingguo, Liu Jianhua, Jiang Zhi, Yang Fudong, Hu Jieming, Ding Yi, Mao Dou, Fan Mingzhu, Lao Mao, Chen Shaoxiong, Zheng Guogu, Liu Wei, He An, Zhu Yu, Chen Xiaoyun, Fei Dawei, Geng Jianyi, Xiang Liqing, Zhang Ding, Xu Tan, Liu Weijian, Zhou Tao, Lao Jinfeng, Yu Ji, Ba Zhennong, Jin Jiangbo, Zhang Qing, Wang Xingwei, Ni Jun, Song Tao, Zhou Zixi, Jia Bu, Shi Yong, Shi Qing, Kan Xuan, Zhou Xiaohu, Davide Quadrio

Shanghai center is free; if you live outside the central ring you need to pay for the courier fee.