RAM HIGHLIGHT 2016
Zhang Ding: Devouring Time
Zhang Ding, Devouring Time, 2016
Time: 2016.09.04-09.11
Venue: No. 20 Huqiu Rd.Shanghai
Organizer: RockbundArt Museum
Support: ROCKBUND
RockbundArt Museum is excited to announce a new bi-annual art event, RAM HIGHLIGHT, to open in September 2016. Celebrating the beautiful summertime in Shanghai and the upcoming seasonal art program at the museum, RAM HIGHLIGHT will focus on the cutting-edge creativity in contemporary art and cultural fields by a special project commissioned to one artist or artist group to invest the museum for 8-15days.
The artist(s) will be selected according to their abilities to activate creative experiences related to their own art creation as well as their wish to shaken the space and the audience of the Museum. RAM offers the commissioned artist(s) an opportunity to conceive a powerful art statement in relation to the space and audiences of RAM.
By its duration andspecific format, RAM HIGHLIGHT is distinctive from any conventional exhibition of artworks.The condensed time of the RAM HIGHLIGHT will allow the artist(s) and our audiences to engage a process of on-going installation changes, performances to happen in different time periods, and stunning installations to rediscover the Museum space.
Larys Forgier, director of RAM commented: “The dynamic space transformation, amazing visual display, performance highlights, and unexpected connections with the audience will make RAM HIGHLIGHT unique. It is also a valuable enrichment to theexisting art programs at the museum by exploring new ways to support and encourage excellent art projects.It provides an opportunity for RAM engage with the art community and our audience in a new way. ”
The artist(s) project will be fully supported and produced by RAM and sponsors.
The inaugural RAM HIGHLIGHT is commissioned to Shanghai based artist Zhang Ding.
RAM is excited to announce that the inaugural RAM HIGHLIGHT is commissioned to Shanghai-based artist Zhang Ding,who will present a special art project Devouring Time, openingto the public from Sep 4th to Sep 11th.
During the project, the space of RAM will be transformed into a unique social system and a stage for collective behaviors. Zhang Ding will invite the audience to enjoy lunch in this specific space, wherethe food and drinks are fully conceived and supervised by the artist personally. In addition to that, the project will bejoined by one ofShanghai’s top chefs ,to work closely with the artistand provide unusually exquisite and enjoyable dining experience for the guests. All participants will be endued with specific labels, identities and symbols, through highly regulated and ceremonial eating process, which also allows them to investigate the topics such as realities of the society, standard of values, regulative infrastructures and etc.
RAM HIGHLIGHT will open with an exclusive gala dinner with RAM art patrons and the best mix of the Shanghai and international art community to happen inside the Museum. The museum will take this opportunity to hold a fundraising auction to the benefit of RAM. Following that the project will open to the public from Sep 4th to Sep 11th. Members of the public can participate in the art project and experience the imaginative system of the artist following an online booking process.
RockbundArtMuseumisgratefultothefollowingartistsandgalleriesfortheirgenerousdonationtotheRAMHIGHLIGHT2016GalaDinnerBenefitAuction.Proceedsfromtheauctionwillbefullyusedforthedevelopmentofexhibition,educationandresearchprogramsofthemuseum.
Donors of Artworks:
TianzhuoChenandLongMarchSpace;ChenXi,PengYihsuanandA+Contemporary;ChengRanandGalerieUrsMeileBeijingandLucerne;HemanChongandRossiRossi;DingYi;GuoXi,ZhangJianling;LeeBulandLehmannMaupin;LiLiao;LuYang,YangXinguang,YuJiandBEIJINGCOMMUNE;MapOffice;MiaoYing;NiYouyu;QiuXiaofei,SongDongandPaceGalleryBeijing;QiuZhijie;ShiZhiying;MariaTaniguchiandcarlier|gebauer;TaoHuiandAIKE-DELLARCO;WangZhiboandEdouardMalingueGallery;YanLei;YeFuna;ZhangEnliandShanghARTGallery;ZhangRuyiandDonGallery;ZhengGuoguandVitaminCreativeSpace.
Honored Guest Seats Sponsrs:
Eduoard Malingue Gallery, GALLERIE PERROTIN, J.P.Morgan, ShangART
Wines and beers sponsors: REKORDERLIG
Art Shipment Partner: BEYOND FINE ART
Media Partners：EnjoyENJOY, iARTSKY, Youku Live
About the artist
Zhang Ding was born in 1980 inGansu, China, lives and works in Shanghai. Zhang Ding's practice is mainly presented through his solo projects, including videos, installations, paintings and live performances,etc. Starting from Tools (2007), constructing absurd scenes full of contrasts and conflicts that focus on sensory perception and will power became his way of demonstrating and interpreting metaphors of societal references, which may also be seen as a series of deconstructed mise en scenes. The scenic displacement created a psychic displacement whereby we were confronted with our imperfect senses, our ‘fallible omniscience’. In Opening (2011), live performance was brought into his project for the first time, and remained present all the way to Orbit of Rock (2014). In these projects, chemical interaction generated by all the in-between stimulation transformed the sites into environmental sculpture of twisting emotion and atmosphere. Enter the Dragon (2015) at ICA London, Zhang Ding experimented further and explored more possibilities in his work by opening up the sole artistic authorship to the public – twenty six musicians of various genres and styles were invited to collaborate at the specific site by making improvisation with each other. The sensory challenges given by spinning mirror maze in London to musicians and audience, which was updated over and over again by the variable space of his latest project Enter the Dragon II (2016) and participation of the Chinese musicians.
About RockbundArt Museum
For over 5 years RAM has been at the forefront of the growing contemporary art scene in China, presenting world-class programmes in a unique museum setting. A boutiqueMuseum of the upmost quality, RAM holds a unique position within Shanghai’s continually expanding cultural scene. The Museum is located within the Bund district and housed in an exquisite heritage Art Deco building which was renovated by architect David Chipperfield before opening in 2010.
The museum’s exemplary curatorial, education and research programmes showcase acclaimed and emerging Chinese and international artists, responding to and reflecting on present and urgent challenges of society locally and internationally. RAM presents a bold and pioneering programme of 3 exhibitions per year; exploring and realising artists’ most ambitious projects and working with them to tailor exhibitions to the Museum and to the Shanghai context, often with a large proportion of works being new commissions. RAM devises, produces and curates its programme in-house, in conjunction with carefully selected international collaborations of the highest quality.
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About ROCKBUND
As an integral element of the historic Bund waterfront, Rockbund is situated at the birthplace of modern Shanghai with her dazzling array of architectural styles. In order to protect this valuable aspect of the urban fabric and cultural heritage, the Rockbund preservation and development project has the stated aim of “restoring the original style and remodeling its function.” The project stretches from Yuanmingyuan Road and Park 33 in the east, Suzhouhe Road in the north, Huqiu Road in the west and Beijing Road in the east, and sits at the confluence of the Huangpu and Suzhou rivers. Aside from restoring eleven protected historical buildings, Rockbund will also build six new buildings with the goal of creating a high-end luxury district with a captivating environment for luxury retail, fine-dining, serviced apartments and commercial offices, recreating the glamour of Shanghai for a new age. With the opening of the RockbundArt Museum, the first of the eleven historic buildings, Rockbund is re-establishing the origin of the Bund as a hub for arts and culture.
For more information on ROCKBUND, please visit:
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