The First Art Exhibition To Explore Urbanisation In China

Date: 15 December 2017
Company: Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture

The Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (UABB) will be held in Shenzhen, China for its 7th edition on 15 December 2017. It is the only exhibition in the world to explore issues of urbanisation and architectural development within China and around the world, creating a distinctive experience for its audience. Since its first exhibition in 2005, UABB has since organised 930 exhibits with over 1 million visitors globally. Last year’s edition was a huge success, seeing over 250,000 visitors over the four-month-long exhibition. This year, UABB embarks on a new journey, holding its first-ever art exhibition, directed by co-curator Hou Hanru, and opening new grounds in the art design world. The theme, Cities, Grow in Difference, will explore the future development of urban villages and their place among the rapidly developing cities of China, while communicating an understanding of coexistence. UABB 2017 is not only shedding light on urbanisation, but also championing a new social cause—improving the lives of people living in urban villages while preserving its essence. UABB 2017 will be held at Nantou Old Town in Nanshan district, an urban village that was once the administrative centre of Bao’An County. The main exhibition will span across the whole Shenzhen city and include three sub-venues in order to accommodate an event of its magnitude.

The curators for this year’s UABB are qualified experts who are working to deliver an exceptional experience for the biennale:

• Hou Hanru, renowned curator based in Paris, Rome and San Francisco, has curated/co-curated over 100 exhibitions and advised in art institutions around the world

• Liu Xiaodu, co-founder and principal of Urbanus Architecture & Design Inc., has participated in numerous architectural exhibitions, including the China Pavilion of 2016 London Biennale

• Meng Yan, principal and co-founder of Urbanus Architecture & Design Inc., was appointed chief curator of the Shenzhen Pavilion in the 2010 Shanghai Expo

Past editions of UABB featured acclaimed exhibitors, Dutch Architectural Photographer Iwan Baan, and Yung Ho Chang. Other organisations that have participated are the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. Past curator Ole Bouman has since taken on the mantle of founding director of Shekou and stayed on in Shenzhen after curating in 2015, while Yung Ho Chang, the father of architecture in China, is set to make another appearance at UABB 2017.

This year, UABB 2017 looks forward to seeing notable names from all over the world, such as Pierre Huyghe, MVRDV, Rob Voerman and John Lin, who are architects and artists well-known for expanding the boundaries of their respective fields.

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