Three American Artists Featured at 2008 Shanghai Biennale

Friday, September 5, 2008

Public Affairs Section
U.S. Consulate General Shanghai
Shanghai Centre
1376 Nanjing West Road
Shanghai, China 200040

The U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of State is sponsoring the presentation of three American artists’ work in the 2008 Shanghai Biennale. The U.S. Government’s financial support to Shanghai Biennale-related programming totals over $100,000.  The U.S. Government is fully sponsoring the inclusion of U.S. artists Mike Kelley, Lawrence Weiner and Rainer Ganahl. 

The Public Affairs Section is working with the Shanghai Biennale on various public outreach opportunities including behind-the-scenes Biennale tours with students, visits to universities, and discussions with local Chinese artists and art students. 

The Consulate General is especially pleased to be able to extend the impact of the Biennale outside of Shanghai.  One of the American artists, Rainer Ganahl, will be traveling to Ningbo later this month to participate in Consulate-organized cultural exchanges, and an accomplished American art educator, Keith Morrison, will travel to Hangzhou and Sichuan in October on a lecture tour about the contemporary U.S. art scene.  Mr. Morrison’s visit to Sichuan represents an effort on the part of the American government and people to help revitalize cultural life in post-earthquake Sichuan. 

For more information on public programming, please contact: Consulate Information Officer Scott Walker at walkers@state.gov. 

Information on the U.S. Artists Participating in the Shanghai Biennale:
Mike Kelley is one of only three “Keynote” artists at the 2008 Shanghai Biennale with a solo exhibition, and his installation piece is "Kandor Con".  His work ranges from highly symbolic and ritualistic performance pieces to installations that re-stage institutional environments. 

Rainer Ganahl uses the existing structures of contemporary society to address global political issues.  His artistic method includes, among other things, riding a bicycle, learning languages and web-based conversations with international participants.  His work at the 2008 Shanghai Biennale titled "Crossing the Hangzhou Bay Bridge" is a video piece that documents his crossing of the new Hangzhou Bay Bridge by bicycle and car in the spring of 2008, before the bridge’s official opening. 

Lawrence Weiner's work uses language as the primary vehicle for his work.  His wall installations have been a primary medium for Weiner since the 1970s and consist solely of words in a non-descript lettering painted on walls.  Weiner's piece at the 2008 Shanghai Biennale is "SCATTERED MATTER".