Commodified China

Andy Warhol Visits Art+Shanghai - By Melanie, May 22, 08

"I want to be plastic," Andy Warhol once said. This bizarre wish uttered by the ever-outlandish artist captures the essence of plastic—a malleable material with innumerable applications that can be shaped into just about any product.

Although Warhol never actually managed the transformation into plastic, he did expand the definition of art by creating works that incorporated quotidian products. Shanghai's Art+Shanghai gallery is excited to show a collection of Warhol's works, which are making their first ever appearance in China. Starting Saturday, the gallery at the end of a lane on Fuxing Lu will exhibit some of Warhol's most recognizable pieces including a screenprint of American contemporary dance icon Martha Graham as well as two "Enrico Coveri" acrylic and silkscreen inks on canvas, the very last pieces The King of Pop Art produced before his death in 1987.

So much of Andy Warhol was the image he created, the parties and the circles of celebrities, intellectuals and bohemians that he graced. It's difficult to think of the artist without conjuring up images of him in his silver wig, surrounded by admirers at Studio 54. To celebrate Warhol's first opening in China, Urban Blast decided to organize a Warhol-caliber party, which will take place on Friday night at Villa ORO. In homage to "The King," this party in the splendidly renovated 1930s Villa will screen a video installation of the work.

Urban Blast promises some other Warhol-related surprises for all party-goers, which will be revealed during the course of the evening. Like any party the artist himself might have attended, this celebration will continue into the wee hours of the morning. So, if you're feeling energetic try to stay awake and swing by Art+Shanghai the following day for a viewing of the actual works.

The glamor and fame precedes Warhol, and perhaps that's the way it should be. Nevertheless, it's impossible to bypass the fact that Warhol subversively altered the course of contemporary art by demolishing the chasm between "high" art and consumer culture. Warhol infused art with everyday American objects—most famously Campbell's Soup cans – creating easy to reproduce images that were conceptually accessible to all viewers, not just the elites running the art world. Deeming his workspace a "Factory," Warhol also revamped the process of artistic creation, which he turned into a manufacturing business that employed dozens of workers.

The King of Pop Art show first appeared earlier this year for the grand opening of Art+Beijing gallery in 798 Art District where it drew more than 5000 visitors. Curated to mimic Warhol's "Factory" space, the exhibition is expertly swathed in aluminum, whisking the viewer back to New York, 1960-something. Among other delightful items on display is The Souper Dress (1968), a cellulose and cotton garment cut 90 centimeters in length, in Campbell's Soup print. The 20th century woman doesn't slave over home-cooked soups. In fact, she doesn't even serve them up from a can—she just dons the image.

It is a small wonder the "Angels" series cleared customs. These early works (1950s) are offset lithographs with hand coloring and the motif is gleefully naughty cherubs caught up in any variety of salacious acts that Warhol has euphemistically titled as "Playful" and "Dancing."

"It" girls, silver wigs, Hollywood, Marilyn, Studio 54…what does all of it amount to? Was the Warholian rejection of profundity part of the master plan? Is a Campbell's Soup dress art? Is it acceptable practice for an artist to hire "assistants" to make his work for him? Did Warhol ultimately succumb to the pitfalls of consumerism? Perhaps questions are irrelevant when a glitzy party awaits in the wings.

Andy Warhol: The King of Pop Exhibition runs from May 24 through June 19 at Art+Shanghai, 1295 Fuxing Lu, Bldg 75, Room 101 at the end of the lane.

Andy Warhol: The Party starts at 10pm Friday May 23 at Villa ORO

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