Wang Xingwei, Untitled (detail), courtesy Galerie Urs Meile

SHANGHAI.-The international contemporary art crowd eagerly awaits ShContemporary second edition. A few weeks following the Beijing Olympics where the world will focus on sports, Shanghai becomes the focus of the international art world. From September 10th -13th, ShContemporary again comes to the Shanghai Exhibition Center. 130 invited galleries from over 20 countries including the Asia-Pacific area, the Americas, and Europe will participate in the leading international art fair of the Asia-Pacific region, which in its first edition in 2007 attracted a huge local and international art crowd. ShContemporary is the only international art show that provides a comprehensive, top quality, overview of the artistic scene in Asia and creates a cultural cross over with the works of Western artists. “Since the closing day of the fair this past September, we are approached daily by galleries and collectors with interest for our next edition which will coincide with the opening of the Shanghai Biennale.” Said Lorenzo Rudolf, Director of ShContemporary.

The first edition of ShContemporary received a very positive response from galleries, collectors, media representatives and art lovers from throughout the world. Despite the controversy surrounding the artistic director Pierre Huber, the innovative concept of the fair and the position it has immediately taken in the market has been recognized as an important stimulation for the development of the contemporary art market. With this in mind, ShContemporary is strengthening its engagement in the direction of research, innovation and discovery. Until the controversy regarding Pierre Huber is resolved, he will not act as artistic director of the fair. ShContemporary is now directly cooperating with prominent curators from every relevant Asia-Pacific country who are providing in depth and comprehensive knowledge from their local art scene to select the best new artists of the entire area. (courtesy www.Artdaily.org)