As Shanghai’s temperatures creep upwards, take respite in air-conditioned museums and check out some great art. Here are three of the city’s best summer art exhibitions, which run the gamut from a behind-the-scenes Bond collection to a Warhol retrospective:
“Designing 007: 50 Years of Bond Style”
Minsheng Art Museum, through June 30
To celebrate the Bond film franchise’s 50th anniversary, London’s Barbican Centre partnered with Minsheng Museum to bring “Designing 007” to China. Shanghai made a sparkling cameo in 2012’s Skyfall, so it’s a fitting stop for the show. More than 500 costumes, props and production materials are showcased throughout the museum’s cavernous exhibition halls. You’ll see everything from a real Aston Martin DB5 to the passports used by Bonds past and present. Placards are in Chinese, but there’s an English audio guide available for those who fall a bit short of being a Bond connoisseur.
“Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal”
Power Station of Art, through July 28
Asia’s largest Warhol retrospective — which is on a 27-month tour in destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing and Tokyo — is gracing Shanghai. The Power Station of Art (a power-plant-turned-museum) is a fitting setting for the show — a nod to Warhol’s own factory. The exhibition is arranged by decade (1940s to 1980s), and Warhol enthusiasts will find plenty to gush over: Jackie (Kennedy Onassis), Marilyn (Monroe) and Liz (Taylor) all make appearances.
“From Gesture to Language”
Rockbund Art Museum, through August 11
This group exhibition borrows a number of pieces from the Louvre and was curated by one of its scholars, Pascal Torres Guardiola. The show features more than 20 artists exploring the connections between traditional techniques and conceptual art. The exhibition is spread out across the entire museum, but the space is intimate enough that you won’t miss anything. Given that many of the exhibits are on loan from the Louvre, it’s no surprise that the artist list reads like a who’s who of contemporary art; Bruce Nauman and his works of neon, Terry Winters’ abstract paintings and Jenny Holzer’s massive projections are all featured.
Photos Courtesy of Barbican Centre, Rockbund Art Museum, The Andy Warhol Museum
