For the morning activity, we caught a train near our hotel and went to Moganshan Road. It was initially a group of derelict industrial warehouses about 200 km west of Shanghai. However, by 1996 the area began to undergo a rapid process of commercialization, which transformed the once marginal location into a thriving international market for contemporary Chinese art. (More detail on this link)
M50 Creative Park
After shutdown of formal Textile Factory in 1999, the area was developed into a Shanghai Art District for all art related shops. Our members went into almost the shops there and had an interview with the shopkeepers and owners to get a business insights and useful entrepreneurial idea.
Ban Du Yin Yue, Music Coffee Shop, has been opened here for about 6 years. Owner of this coffee shop very in-love music and planned to open a music bar for customer to select what they want to listen freely. Coffee was just money source for this music bar to run, said lady manager.
Heren & Fen, a 50% Chinese share-holder Fashion Clothing, here in Creative Park is a branch shop. The shop was opened here for about 2-3 years, said girl employee. Many standard lady-costumes are available, customer can base on that to further design their own costume, and the shop will provide the tailor.
Lishi Print (Lee Gallery Beijing), Art-Work Printing Work-Shop has opened branch shop here for a week, still on renovating. Head office is in Beijing, 10 year history. Open shop here because they want to expand their market and there is also a number of existing customers here, said lady branch manager. The workshop provides art printing for artist or designer, targeting mostly on limited art work.Island 6 Arts Center, a non-profit online art gallery. The owner business is collecting various kind of art work from many places and exhibiting them in company websites. Everyone who interest in art work can buy the pieces through his websites, and he also gains sponsorship from artwork fan.
Sosin Contemporary
Japan Art, to the World
(Tetsuhiro Kamatani Solo Exhibition)
The Art Gallery is claimed as a national tourist attraction but it is not well known by many people because it is not located in the city center and quite far from mass transportation. Most of the tourists who visit this place know this place from friend’s suggestion.
I had a chance to interview staffs of ArtSosin, Shanghai branch. This shop is located in the innermost of the Art Gallery. They decorate shop very lively and colorful.
Staffs told me that owner is a Japanese man who loves modern style of arts. He would like to make an arts gallery for young Japanese people who live in Shanghai. He has one arts gallery in Japan and he saw the opportunities that many Japanese people, included young people, live in Shanghai for their study and work. There is only one artist for this gallery and he is also young. That’s why his art work can serve young Japanese people.
Staffs told me that owner is a Japanese man who loves modern style of arts. He would like to make an arts gallery for young Japanese people who live in Shanghai. He has one arts gallery in Japan and he saw the opportunities that many Japanese people, included young people, live in Shanghai for their study and work. There is only one artist for this gallery and he is also young. That’s why his art work can serve young Japanese people.
Some day they may have no customer at all but another day, they may have almost 200 people visit the gallery. By the way, most all of visitors only come to visit and appreciate with the art works. There are only few people who will buy the art work. By the way, staffs told me that they think that other surrounding galleries are friends, not competitors. They do not complete directly to each other as the style of art work is different. Different art work attracts different type of customers.
In the near future, the owner has no plan to expand his gallery to other place in Shanghai because he thinks that there are not many potential customers so it is not worth expanding.
Visit the Official Sosin Contemporary website here --> http://www.artsosin.com/
From our interview with many shops and restaurant in Art District, we have picked on of the entrepreneur as the example of our interviews. He is an inspiring person who is a pioneer of the new concept of art in China, Xu Wei-qiang. We choose him as the most interesting people based on many aspects.
Mr. Xu graduated from Yunnan Art Institute and Guangzhou Art Institute. Since 1994, he has been researching and practicing his own form of art, so called "Deconstruction Art". Many kind of his artworks had been shown in several art magazine and on the exhibition such as Beijing Art 2008, Shanghai Expo, etc. He spend his time contribute to the art by teaching an art, at his office and also some universities. Now, he is currently a chief planner in exhibit the Deconstruction Art nation-wide.
Here are our conversation with him:
IMBA: Good morning, Sir. Would you mind if we would like to interview you for a while?
XU: Not at all. I'm very glad to speak with you. Please have your seat.
IMBA: Thank you very much for your kind assistance. We come from Thammasart University in Thailand. We are master degree students. Now we are doing assignment about entrepreneurship within Art District.
XU: I see. How can I assist you?
IMBA: We would like to ask you a few questions. To save your time. We better start the first question now.
XU: My name is Xu Weiqiang. As you see I'm an artist.
IMBA: Is this place your studio?
XU: Yeah. I rent it.
IMBA: Could you please tell us how can you become an artist?
XU: Sure. I'm graduate from Art school here in China and I spend few years as an art instructor in University. I even write my own textbook for other to study about my art.
IMBA: What kind of art are you expert at?
XU: I am the expert of Deconstruction Art. I am the one who introduce this kind of art to the China and the rest of the world. I have spent around a decade to spread this kind of art.
IMBA: Can you please explain about deconstruction art?
XU: It's about breaking what other believe by looking at things from different aspect. Those who don't know may think that I'm anti-social but I'm not. I am trying to express the nature of things and people on this world. I just express it from my perspective.
IMBA: You said before that you used to be art instructor, why do you quit?
XU: Working there has a lot of constraints and limitations. I prefer working freely. I can't express my feeling well when I am fixed within the boundary other people set up.
IMBA: That's why you deicide to start your own business?
XU: It is one of the factor. Another factor is that I want to promote my style of painting around the world. I prefer to work for myself.
IMBA: How famous is the deconstruction art?
XU: It has been gaining more and more famous day by day. Right now, there are many artists around the globe who are trying to copy my style. However, I am the one who introduce this kind of art to the world, especially to China.
IMBA: How do you compete with other artist then?
XU: For me, my reputation sell itself. People like my painting because I am unique in the way they prefer. I can't say that everyone will love my painting. Some may like mine while other may like other's painting.
IMBA: How do you set the price for your painting?
XU: I'm not the one who set the price. There's an art community. They will be the one who set the price for me. Depend on how many people want it and how much they are willing to pay.
IMBA: So your price rely on the community only?
XU: Most of the time. However, sometimes, customer will come to my studio and buy from me directly to avoid mark-up.
IMBA: Who are your customer?
XU: I have customer all around the world. Some of them fly here from Europe. Some of them fly from America. My paintings are also exhibited in world class art exhibition. That's why I am well known all around the world.
IMBA: How many painting can you sell within a week?
XU: I could say I sell around 2-3 paintings per week on average.
IMBA: Do you have any plan for future?
XU: For me, I have already introduced this style of art to the world. I am quite happy for that. Many people, who love deconstruction art, know me as the original artist of this style. I will keep drawing new painting as long as I can.
IMBA: In the long run, when there are more deconstruction artists arise, how can you compete with them?
XU: As I mentioned before, for deconstuction art, I sell my reputation and uniqueness. I believe no one can really copy my style totally. That's my competitive advantage.
IMBA: Is there anything more?
XU: One important factor is that I have created tight relationship with many art agencies who will introduce my work to their customers. We have been working together for years. That's also one of my strength.
IMBA: So network is also one of very important factor, then.
XU: Absolutely.
IMBA: We think we have taken enough of your time. Thank you very much for your kind assistance. It really helps us to understand things more.
XU: I'm glad to help. However, when you go back to Thailand, don't forget to introduce my art to Thailand. I haven't had customer from Thailand yet.
IMBA: Sure.
This is from one of IMBA #7 art-district team. Click on the start button and it will take you to the tour, a compact comprehensive guide of the art district. Special thanks to Mr. Hnan for making this cool stuff.
In the near future, the owner has no plan to expand his gallery to other place in Shanghai because he thinks that there are not many potential customers so it is not worth expanding.
Visit the Official Sosin Contemporary website here --> http://www.artsosin.com/
Xu Weiqiang
Entrepreneur of the day
Mr. Xu graduated from Yunnan Art Institute and Guangzhou Art Institute. Since 1994, he has been researching and practicing his own form of art, so called "Deconstruction Art". Many kind of his artworks had been shown in several art magazine and on the exhibition such as Beijing Art 2008, Shanghai Expo, etc. He spend his time contribute to the art by teaching an art, at his office and also some universities. Now, he is currently a chief planner in exhibit the Deconstruction Art nation-wide.
Here are our conversation with him:
IMBA: Good morning, Sir. Would you mind if we would like to interview you for a while?
XU: Not at all. I'm very glad to speak with you. Please have your seat.
IMBA: Thank you very much for your kind assistance. We come from Thammasart University in Thailand. We are master degree students. Now we are doing assignment about entrepreneurship within Art District.
XU: I see. How can I assist you?
IMBA: We would like to ask you a few questions. To save your time. We better start the first question now.
XU: My name is Xu Weiqiang. As you see I'm an artist.
IMBA: Is this place your studio?
XU: Yeah. I rent it.
IMBA: Could you please tell us how can you become an artist?
XU: Sure. I'm graduate from Art school here in China and I spend few years as an art instructor in University. I even write my own textbook for other to study about my art.
IMBA: What kind of art are you expert at?
XU: I am the expert of Deconstruction Art. I am the one who introduce this kind of art to the China and the rest of the world. I have spent around a decade to spread this kind of art.
IMBA: Can you please explain about deconstruction art?
XU: It's about breaking what other believe by looking at things from different aspect. Those who don't know may think that I'm anti-social but I'm not. I am trying to express the nature of things and people on this world. I just express it from my perspective.
IMBA: You said before that you used to be art instructor, why do you quit?
XU: Working there has a lot of constraints and limitations. I prefer working freely. I can't express my feeling well when I am fixed within the boundary other people set up.
IMBA: That's why you deicide to start your own business?
XU: It is one of the factor. Another factor is that I want to promote my style of painting around the world. I prefer to work for myself.
IMBA: How famous is the deconstruction art?
XU: It has been gaining more and more famous day by day. Right now, there are many artists around the globe who are trying to copy my style. However, I am the one who introduce this kind of art to the world, especially to China.
IMBA: How do you compete with other artist then?
XU: For me, my reputation sell itself. People like my painting because I am unique in the way they prefer. I can't say that everyone will love my painting. Some may like mine while other may like other's painting.
IMBA: How do you set the price for your painting?
XU: I'm not the one who set the price. There's an art community. They will be the one who set the price for me. Depend on how many people want it and how much they are willing to pay.
IMBA: So your price rely on the community only?
XU: Most of the time. However, sometimes, customer will come to my studio and buy from me directly to avoid mark-up.
IMBA: Who are your customer?
XU: I have customer all around the world. Some of them fly here from Europe. Some of them fly from America. My paintings are also exhibited in world class art exhibition. That's why I am well known all around the world.
IMBA: How many painting can you sell within a week?
XU: I could say I sell around 2-3 paintings per week on average.
IMBA: Do you have any plan for future?
XU: For me, I have already introduced this style of art to the world. I am quite happy for that. Many people, who love deconstruction art, know me as the original artist of this style. I will keep drawing new painting as long as I can.
IMBA: In the long run, when there are more deconstruction artists arise, how can you compete with them?
XU: As I mentioned before, for deconstuction art, I sell my reputation and uniqueness. I believe no one can really copy my style totally. That's my competitive advantage.
IMBA: Is there anything more?
XU: One important factor is that I have created tight relationship with many art agencies who will introduce my work to their customers. We have been working together for years. That's also one of my strength.
IMBA: So network is also one of very important factor, then.
XU: Absolutely.
IMBA: We think we have taken enough of your time. Thank you very much for your kind assistance. It really helps us to understand things more.
XU: I'm glad to help. However, when you go back to Thailand, don't forget to introduce my art to Thailand. I haven't had customer from Thailand yet.
IMBA: Sure.
Extra Feature
Interactive Flash
This is from one of IMBA #7 art-district team. Click on the start button and it will take you to the tour, a compact comprehensive guide of the art district. Special thanks to Mr. Hnan for making this cool stuff.
