Get transported to different realms, time periods, and planes of existence this month in art, with everything from large-scale modern art installations to ancient cultural artifacts to classic masterpieces spanning centuries.

It’s super easy to do just that in Shanghai these days because all the good stuff is happening at the Museum of Art Pudong (MAP). Give us edification but more importantly, give us convenience. The Museum has four exhibitions that are worth your attention and your RMB and you can bang ’em all out in an afternoon or so. Read on for more info on those four plus a bonus fifth we’re also recommending.

Note: The ticket price covers admission to all four exhibitions, you only have to buy it once. Hey! That’s alright!

Xu Bing: Gravitational Arena

We’re starting off big and sublime, wrestling with primordial forces and themes of meaning and perception. Xu Bing’s “Gravitational Area” is a 30-meter vortex of Chinese characters and arcane symbols that stretches down from the ceiling to the floor. The whole thing is reflected by a big mirror on the ground, creating the sensation of depth that the artwork is going through a wormhole into the ether.

Situated at the heart of the building, the central exhibition hall has impressive dimensions, measuring over 30 meters in height and 17 meters in length and width across five floors. Throughout your journey within the museum, this remarkable artwork remains a prominent presence, visible from various perspectives and stages.

Time: Daily, 10am-9pm.

Venue: Museum of Art Pudong

Address: 2777 Binjiang Dadao, near Fenghe Lu, Pudong District

Price: 100rmb-280rmb.

The Greats of Six Centuries: Masterpieces from the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

Shanghai continues its love affair with classic paintings with “The Greats of Six Centuries”, which is exactly that; a greatest hits collection from Spain.

The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, which is part of Madrid’s renowned “Golden Triangle of Art” in Spain, showcases its treasured works in China for the first time. Spanning six centuries, works are from the Renaissance to post-war European and American movements — about 70 in total. The exhibition aims to provide the audience with an encounter of the Western world’s evolution in lifestyle and social landscapes over the past six hundred years. Quite a bit has changed, as it turns out.

On show: masterpieces by renowned artists such as Raphael, Pieter Hendricksz de Hooch, Peter Paul Rubens, Canaletto, Edouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall, and Georgia O’Keeffe, including portraits and landscapes in a diverse range of themes.

Time: Daily, 10am-9pm.

Venue: Museum of Art Pudong

Address: 2777 Binjiang Dadao, near Fenghe Lu, Pudong District

Price: 100rmb-280rmb.

The Shape of Time: Art and Ancestors of Oceania from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Something cool… Something cultural… Something different!

This exhibition presents the Oceanian art collection from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, offering a vibrant portrayal of the region’s rich history and culture. Making its debut in Shanghai, this exhibition marks the first time the Met’s esteemed collection of Oceanian art has ventured beyond the walls of New York since its inception. Featuring over 110 artworks spanning four centuries, the exhibition is divided into three main sections: “Voyaging”, “Ancestors”, and “Time”.

Through these sections, the profound connections between Pacific Native peoples, their ancestors, time, and environment are vividly depicted, revealing the distinctive and entwined relationship that defines their heritage. Really neat and very unique for Shanghai.

Time: Daily, 10am-9pm.

Venue: Museum of Art Pudong

Address: 2777 Binjiang Dadao, near Fenghe Lu, Pudong District

Price: 100-280rmb.

Liu Heung Shing: Lens · Era · People

Calling all photography enthusiasts! If you’re interested in historical documentary photography, this show is a must-see. Immerse yourself in a bright and evocative visual journey that traces the evolution of Chinese society, work, and play and captures significant moments from international history.

The Museum of Art Pudong’s inaugural photography exhibition, the show is a retrospective of the acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, Liu Heung Shing. Featuring seven distinct sections, there are 200 works capturing historical events, portraits of notable figures, and candid glimpses into the everyday lives of people from various countries during specific periods.

Time: Daily, 10am-9pm.

Venue: Museum of Art Pudong

Address: 2777 Binjiang Dadao, near Fenghe Lu, Pudong District

Price: 100rmb-280rmb.

Modern Time: Masterpieces from the Collection of Museum Berggruen / NationalGalerie Berlin

Something for enthusiasts of brand name modernism: Masterpieces from the Collection of Museum Berggruen in Berlin, making its third stop in Shanghai at UCCA Edge as part of an international tour. Big names represented: Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Alberto Giacometti, Paul Cézanne, and Georges Braque. One for the Art History 101 grads indeed.

Nearly a hundred representative works across various mediums such as painting, sculpture, and paper-cutting are encompassed in this exhibition. For the first time, it follows a chronological structure aligned with the creation timeline of the works, presenting visitors with a comprehensive understanding of the art masters’ creative journeys. Some of the biggest movements of modernism are represented here: Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism, and more. One worth making the trip down for, even just to check some names off your list.

Time: Daily except Mon until October 8, 10am-7pm.

Venue: UCCA Edge

Address: 88 Xizang Bei Lu, near Tiantong Lu, Jing’an District

Price: 120rmb-150rmb.

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