From January 1 to December 31 next year, there will be a different cultural and art event happening every day in Shanghai. These events, which make up the Intrude: Art & Life 366 project, could be held in one of the city's streets, parks, office buildings, squares, department stores, or households.
Presented by the Zendai Museum of Modern Art in Shanghai, the project aims to diversify the ways in which art and culture reach people.
With a total of 366 events scheduled for 2008, the project will incorporate works from various fields, including exhibitions, site-specific installations, performances, concerts, films and debates.
"This art project aims to intervene in people's daily lives, and to draw their attention to art happenings and stimulate public debate on art," says Shen Qibin, curator of the project and director of Zendai Museum of Modern Art. "A project of this scale has never taken place in China before."
The 366 events will be created by 100 Chinese and 266 international artists or artistic groups, and will involve cooperation with local and international organizations such as the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, College of Fine Arts of the University of New South Wales in Australia, and Institut pour la Ville-en-Mouvement in France.
The Zendai Museum of Modern Art is inviting artists, galleries, museums, curators and performers to participate in this ambitious project. Artists active in different fields such as visual arts, music, theater and dance can submit proposals to the museum. All works that can be realized in different public or private spaces in Shanghai are welcomed.
On the website - www.intrude366.com - there will be regular updates on the progress of the project. An Intrude ART magazine will also be published on the 15th of every month, which includes reviews and previews of events as well as a forum.
The project will begin with famous artist Gu Wenda's media art plan Heavenly Lantern on January 1, in which red lanterns will appear in popular places throughout Shanghai. Other events in January include Cang Xin's performance Cang Xin Excercis, in a pedestrian lane near Zendai Museum of Modern Art, the Utopia group's Family Museums, and Norwegian artist Vibeke Jensen's Night Watch.
"Looking at everyday life from a cultural perspective is an idealistic concept rather than a superficial attitude, because the substance of time and space only comes into view during the actual happenings," Shen says. "In this sense, Zendai Museum of Modern Art will not take up the role of curator or guide, but will only provide a bridge and assist those who yearn to intrude on public cultural spaces. We wholeheartedly look forward to sharing this journey with them."
Intrude: Art & Life 366 is planned as a long-term project. All of the events will be archived and later presented as international touring exhibitions.
In 2010, the entire archive will be presented at the opening of the Himalaya Art Center - Zendai Museum of Contemporary Art, while about 30 artists from Intrude will be invited to collaborate again.
Founded in 2005 and located in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai, the Zendai Museum of Modern Art exhibits and collects innovative contemporary art from China and around the world.
(China Daily December 29, 2007)
