To mark the gallery’s tenth anniversary in 2023, Hive Center for Contemporary Art is honoured to announce the official opening of two new gallery spaces, Hive Shanghai and Hive Becoming, located in the century-old architectural landmarks in Shanghai’s historic Bund district, aiming to further contribute to and promote the growth and flourishing of contemporary Chinese art. The two spaces were designed by Shanghai-based creative agency 16b9 by totalab. Hive currently has three gallery spaces located in Beijing and Shanghai.
Hive Shanghai and Hive Becoming are both set to open on June 10, 2023.
Hive Shanghai’s inaugural exhibition entitled Row the Boat as You Wish, which is inspired by the emblematic subject of Fitzcarraldo, is curated by Xia Jifeng, founder of Hive Center for Contemporary Art. It features iconic artists of the post-70s generation, including Bu Di, Huang Yuxing, Jia Aili, Liu Xiaohui, Ouyang Chun, Qin Qi, Song Fun, Tu Hongtao, Wei Jia and Xie Nanxing. Hive Becoming’s first exhibition, curated by Yang Jian, presents Undercurrent Softness, the debut solo exhibition of Shuyi Cao, a post-90s Chinese artist based in New York.
Hive Center for Contemporary Art | Shanghai
Hive Shanghai is located in the First Trust Co. Building at 270 Beijing East Road, once considered as the financial street of the Chinese capital, neighbouring famous historical buildings such as the former Yien Yieh Commercial Bank Building, Ningpo Commercial & Savings Bank, Ld., Land Bank Building and Shanghai Trust Co. Building. Originally built in 1924, the First Trust Co. Building was designed by the then renowned British firm Atkinson & Dallas Architects and Civil Engineers Ltd. Combining neoclassical and modernist styles, it once served as the headquarters of the First Trust Company, which conducted trust, banking, depository, and insurance business, and witnessed the century-long history of the rise and fall of China’s modern national capital and finance. In 2005, it was designated among the fourth group of heritage architecture in Shanghai and has twice undergone conservation and restoration to recover its original features.
The ground floor occupied by Hive Shanghai was previously the main lobby of First Trust Company, accounting for approximately 1,000 square metres. Apart from the modifications necessary to accommodate contemporary art exhibitions, the building retains its original stylistic elements. The recessed main entrance leading to the redesigned Ionic columns positioned separately in two rows to the left and right, the expansive and high-ceilinged space, the areas divided by the Ionic and square columns and the exceptional stained-glass skylight of botanical motifs and geometric patterns reflect the historical building’s distinct refinement and sophistication. Inspired by the cultural historical heritage and commitment, Hive Center for Contemporary Art serves to cultivate the best of contemporary art while celebrating the continued vitality of the centennial landmark.
Hive Becoming | Shanghai
Hive Becoming, a programme with ten years of history, has landed for the first time with a dedicated space in heritage architecture at 211 Beijing East Road. The space at the historic building measures almost 300 square metres and is located less than 100 metres from Hive Shanghai in the First Trust Co. Building.
Hive Center for Contemporary Art’s initiative to support young artists, Hive Becoming Program, is devoted to discovering, nurturing and collaborating with young artists from around the world. To date, it has realised the debut solo exhibitions of more than a dozen artists, followed by accompanying publications, writings and other research work. Hive Becoming Program has presented the first solo exhibitions of many prominent artists of the post-80s and 90s generation, such as Ji Xin, Zhang Ji, Pu Yingwei, Tan Yongqin, Fang Yuan, Li Weiyi, Guan Yu, Fei Yining, Gong Chenyu, Yu Linhan, Joey Xia, and Lu Yu.
The opening of the dedicated space of Hive Becoming will take advantage of Shanghai’s unique location international metropolis and become more deeply engaged in the ecological development of young ethnic Chinese artists globally. In collaboration with the existing Program at Hive’s Beijing space, it will provide young artists of Chinese descent with more space and opportunities for exhibition, curation and research, creating a sustainable dynamic for the future development of contemporary art.
Hive Center for Contemporary Art | Beijing
Hive Center for Contemporary Art was founded in Beijing in 2013 by director Xia Jifeng. The name ‘Hive’ is a metaphor for the existence of human aggregation and the multiplicity of their minds, particularly corresponding to the current state of social structure and contemporary art. In addition to Hive Shanghai and Hive Becoming spaces, the head office, Hive Beijing, is located in China’s famous 798 Art Zone, converted from an old industrial plant of over 4,000 square metres. Hive Beijing has five formal galleries and an entrance hall, and presents a dozen exhibitions each year.
As one of China’s most influential and largest contemporary art galleries in China, Hive Center for Contemporary Art is committed to contributing to the local cultivation and construction of contemporary Chinese art while promoting and sharing contemporary Chinese art and introducing outstanding global artists and art projects.
