Double Infinity
29 April – 23 May 2010
Opening: Thursday 29 April 2010, 4 pm
Joint exhibition project by the Van Abbemuseum and
Arthub Asia Shanghai
Dutch Culture Centre
800 Show, 800 Changde Road
200040 Shanghai, China
pressoffice [at] vanabbemuseum.nl
press [at] arthubasia.org
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 11 am – 7 pm.
On the 29th of April Double Infinity, a joint initiative by the Van Abbemuseum and Arthub Asia, will open at the Dutch Culture Centre in Shanghai, parallel to the World Expo 2010. Double Infinity is a collaborative encounter between a north-western European art museum and an Asian art initiative and comprises of an exhibition, a performance series, a lecture programme and a publication. Double Infinity marks the first time that a European museum opens itself and its collection to the responses of artists living and working in China – responses that form a host of enriching, humorous and critical insights.The original inspiration for Double Infinity lies in the artistic approach of John Körmeling, the designer of the Dutch Pavilion, Happy Street, at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. His wide-ranging, cross-disciplinary, unconventional stance towards architecture, urban planning and design has led to a particular selection criteria for the works from the Van Abbemuseum collection and from the participating artists from China and rest of Asia.
The festive opening of the programme on the 29th of April 2010 will feature a performance by the Chinese artist Zhou Xiaohu, Thai artist Surasi Kusolwong and a special work by Comfortable Collective artist Maya Kramer.
The weekend of the 15th and 16th of May (11 am – 5 pm) is dedicated to the extensive public programme Last Two Decades Revisited, with discussions and performances at the theatre in the Dutch Culture Centre. The programme which takes its inspiration from the alternative timeline of Chinese art history and the historical significance, but also current fragility, of cultural exchanges. Participants include: Zhang Peili, Charles Esche, Li Zhenhua, Alexander Brandt, Hu Jieming, Song Haidong, Carol Lu, Jin Shan, Chen Shaoxiong, and more. The programme also includes performances by Julika Rudelius (15 May, 3.30-5 pm) and Surasi Kusolwong (16 May, 4-5 pm).
Participating artists
Lara Almarcegui, Johanna Billing, Stanley Brouwn, Comfortable Collective (Jin Shan, Gao Mingyan, Li Mu, Maya Kramer), Cao Fei, Alicia Framis, Liu Gang, HHD_FUN (Wang Zhenfei & Wang Luming), Job Koelewijn, John Körmeling, Surasi Kusolwong, El Lissitzky, David Maljkovic, Julika Rudelius, Speedism, Xu Tan, Pieter van Wesemael, Zhou Xiaohu, Xijing Men (Chen Shaoxiong, Gimhongsok, Tsuyoshi Ozawa).
Curators
Defne Ayas, Remco de Blaaij, Charles Esche, Davide Quadrio.
Partners
Netherlands China Arts Foundation, Gemeente Eindhoven, Dutch Culture Centre, DutchDFA (Dutch Design Fashion and Architecture), Shama Xujiahui, Mondriaan Foundation. Chinese artists and Surasi Kusolwong productions are made possible thanks to Far East Far West Ltd.
