After the unexpected complete lifting of Covid-19 restrictions at the end of 2022, Shanghai, due to the subsequent Omicron wave, did not immediately resume production or schooling for almost two months until after the Chinese New Year in early 2023. The situation gradually stabilized only near the city’s first anniversary of the 2022 Covid-19 total lockdown, euphemistically nicknamed “Shanghai Spring.” Despite the existence of online censorship, authorities still could not completely prevent people from posting related commemorative messages. However, while remembering that traumatic period, professionals in the arts, pressured by the critical economic downturn, stopped discussing the pandemic and delved into a busy schedule of exhibitions and art fairs once again.

Beginning the belated year of renewal, Yuz Museum Shanghai, founded by widely respected art collector Budi Tek, who died in March 2022, marked its ninth anniversary in May after moving to the picturesque waterfront venue in Panlong Tiandi, a newly developed commercial and residential compound in the ancient canal town of Panlong in the Qingpu district. Leaving its former industrial site in the West Bund area, Yuz Museum settled into its new home with “A Journey: A Yuz Foundation Collection,” presenting more than 40 representative artworks from the collection of more than 1,500.