Art Wuzhen: Utopias·Heterotopias
By Andrew Stooke
In the pell-mell of China’s economic development, Wuzhen, a contemporary water town, is a leading player. It already hosts a drama festival, now based in architect Kris Yao’s elegant theatre that opened in 2013; a new museum dedicated to local writer and artist Mu Xin; as well as a lively children’s folk game festival. Noting the potential correlation of its own canal system to that of Venice, the Italian city that originated the world's most renowned contemporary art biennial, the dreamy town recently inaugurated its own art exhibition, presenting extraordinary works often in unexpected places.
The exhibition of 40 local and international artists is divided into two parts: a beautifully restored former silk factory, which offers an uncluttered gallery environment, while significant works are also installed in six locations across the traditional town of Wuzhen. These sites bring about public interactivity and the pleasure that arises when seeing the old and the new come together.
