Finally, Shanghai has some graffiti that won't disappear in a few weeks. While other museums are quietly preparing their big shows in March, MoCA kicked off the Chinese New Year with Post Contemporary-Urban Graphic 7019, filling out their three-story space with eight iconic graffiti artists: Vhils, M. Chat, Shepard Fairey (Obey), JonOne, John Matos Crash, ZEVS, L’atlas, and Tanc (Tancrede Perrot).

These artists all grew up in the 1970s and ’80s, when street art peaked in New York. Combine 1970 and 2019 you get “7019”, hence the name.





Through exploring media and techniques like laser cutting and screen printing, the exhibits traces the evolution of street art from subway tunnels to canvases and museum walls, and the artists taking inspiration from abstract art, pop art, calligraphy and even mass advertising. Music videos and behind-the-scenes short documentaries add to the work. According to Shepard Fairey, this is the first time his art has been included in a museum on the Chinese mainland.

Probably one of the best exhibitions from MoCA in recent memory, highly recommended.

***
Post Contemporary-Urban Graphic 7019 runs from January 25 to April 25, the entry fee is 80rmb. The museum will close during February 4-7.