Date and Time of Exhibition:
Saturday November, 8th, 2014
7:30pm to 10:30pm
Shanghai, China. Curators Michelle Proksell (co-curator of BYOB Beijing) with Tina Blakeney and Margot Hamer (co founders of Shanghai based Redscale Studios) are pleased to present BYOB Shanghai: BEGIN / END / LOOP, a one-night installation and series of performances dedicated to the exploration of moving light, projection and sound in collaboration with a variety of Chinese and international artists.
BYOB (Bring Your Own Beamer) is a series of international do-it-yourself one-night exhibitions where artists experiment with the medium of projection. BYOB originated in Berlin, Germany in 2010 by artists Rafaël Rozendaal and Anne de Vries and has since grown in worldwide popularity, expanding the DIY experience to cities across the globe. www.byobworldwide.com
On Saturday, November 8th, 2014, BYOB Shanghai will project onto the surfaces of the historic building 1933老场坊, situated in Hongkou District, North Bund. Each artist will have just a few hours to set up and install a projection-based installation art piece in the space of their choosing (using all of their own materials and equipment) before the location is opened to the public for free viewing.
Opened in 1933, the building was originally a slaughterhouse conceived by noted British architect Balfours and represents an extraordinary reflection on the vision and ambition of Old Shanghai. Incorporating both Chinese and Western elements of design, the open-air concept with spiral staircases and various angles creates a mysterious blank canvas for moving image, light and sound to infiltrate; wherein artists will transform this notable building into a new space that echoes the ever-expanding and fast-paced city that surrounds it.
The cycles of construction, refurbishment, and reinterpretation of the building and its usage resonate with the history, development and expansion of Shanghai. Inside a square exterior, 1933老场坊 has a circular inner structure whose repetitive nature instills a metaphorical feeling of time in motion, beginning and ending, again and again. This feeling sparked the inspiration for the curatorial theme of BEGIN/END/LOOP, which also references looping in experimental film, video and sound mediums.
BYOB Shanghai’s collective of artists are not limited to the flat surfaces of concrete walls, but are encouraged to engage in the remarkable architecture of 1933老场坊, to project on walls, floors, pillars, ceilings, stairs and projecting walkways. Artists will interpret forms of projection through various means, including slide projectors, video/film projectors, lasers, lighting, installation and live VJ-ing to investigate and illuminate the theme of beginnings and endings on loop A series of curated sound and music performances will also accompany the exhibition, helping to create an ambiance and soundscape as unique and memorable as the building itself.
