The 2019 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season (SUSAS) officially opened on September 28. Organized by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, and the Yangpu District People's Government, this year’s edition continues to explore urban spatial themes against the backdrop of Shanghai’s ongoing urban renewal and development. The event is led by Chief Curator Fram Kitagawa, the founder and artistic director of Japan’s "Echigo-Tsumari Art Field" and "Setouchi Triennale." Yoshiyuki Kawazoe, an associate professor and architect at the University of Tokyo, serves as the curator for the Space Art section, while Professor Ruan Xin, founding dean and doctoral supervisor at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Design, serves as the curator for the Planning and Architecture section. Zhang Ming, professor, doctoral supervisor, and deputy head of the Department of Architecture at Tongji University’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning, serves as the Chief Architect of the Art Season.
The 2019 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season is themed "Encounter" and is divided into two main sections: "Space Art" and "Planning and Architecture." Chief Curator Fram Kitagawa stated: "Shanghai is a place where Chinese and world cultures meet. The participating artists are representative figures from around the globe, and their work creates an encounter between different national artistic perspectives. As a port city, Shanghai has engaged in extensive exchanges with other countries throughout its history. Whether past or present, East or West, all things meet here in a spectacular way. The theme of 'Encounter' is a reflection on Shanghai’s past and its growth process, fueled by an anticipation of the many new encounters to come."
The Art Season features a 5.5-kilometer waterfront public space in the southern section of the Yangpu Riverside as its main venue, with the former Shanghai Shipyard site (including the dry docks and the Jute and Hemp Warehouse) serving as the primary exhibition area. The site is open to the public free of charge from September 29 through November 30. With the opening of the exhibition, a 2.7-kilometer stretch to the east of the Yangpu Bridge and a 2.8-kilometer stretch to the west have been connected and unveiled to the public for the first time. Simultaneously, the historic dry docks and the Jute and Hemp Warehouse will serve as the main exhibition halls for the next two months, hosting thematic exhibitions that focus on urban form and living spaces through the lens of art.
