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Visitors appreciate finely taken pictures at epSITE Shanghai, a gallery dedicaded to photography, in United Benetton Building on Huaihai Road. ¡ª Zhang Suoqing
Among sundry art forms, photogra-phy is perhaps the most humble genre that many people can easily accept and understand. This might explain the recent boom in photo galleries in Shanghai.
As if to close the gap between "high art" and the ordinary public, photo galleries are usually located in big shopping malls and building complexes.
"This is a perfect platform to promote the art of photography with more people," says Rose King, president of Shanghai Wally's Digital & Photocopy Co Ltd, which has recently opened a photo gallery in a downtown complex that also houses a restaurant, cafeteria and boutiques.
In fact, this is not the first photo gallery in the city.
EpSITE Shanghai in the Benetton Building where fashionistas frequent the United Benetton boutique on Huaihai Road takes the lead.
The gallery is noted for its selection of realistic photos capturing the life in Shanghai in the 1970s-80s.
"I especially prefer the shopping atmosphere here," says Christine Wu, a 30- Lens on life genre touches all
something white-collar worker. "Like ladies of my age, I am a shopping maniac. But apart from those dazzling costumes, these pictures particularly touch my heart after shopping. They remind me of a bygone era that I am familiar with. A kind of nostalgia towards my childhood immediately hits me."
True. The impact comes more naturally and unexpectedly than the experience that one normally gains at museums.
"Frankly speaking, I don't have the habit of visiting museums very often, perhaps I think that art is something too far away from my life," says Jay Wu, a consultant at a foreign company. "But thanks to these photos, I have become a shutterbug and gallery-goer. Every two weeks, I come here with my wife. While she is doing the shopping, I wait for her and appreciate the photos."
Perhaps the attraction of a photo gallery lies in its aura of leisure.
Here, one doesn't have to be equipped with certain knowledge or feel like an "art idiot," and there is no admission fee.
"I think the admission fee for some exhibitions in museums are a bit too high," says Wang Wenyu, a government tax worker. "That's why I frequently come here with my family during the weekend."
But each photo gallery has a different theme.
Unlike epSITE, Shanghai Wally's Photo Gallery focuses on a variety of visual images. For example, the opening exhibit features nearly 34 pictures taken by 34 photographers, some professionals and some amateurs, viewing the same subject - canal towns in China.
"We also have curators and an artistic supervisor to decide the theme for each show," says King. Participants in the exhibits mainly come from members of a special photography salon organized by the company.
"It offers everyone a fair opportunity," she says. "We put more emphasis on the quality of the photo than on the fame of the photographer."
Obviously the art salon nestled in the fancy Citic Square on Nanjing Road focuses more on the photography from professionals. Its recent exhibition features 46 photos from renowned photographers from different countries and regions, including China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
Yet unlike other galleries, this one charges visitors for admission.
"Because we have a special team working on these shows," says Zhang Wenjing, the person in charge of the gallery. "Apart from photo shows, this art salon also promotes painting, sculptures, installations and video pieces. We believe that those who really love art won't mind paying the small fee."
Whether free or not, these photo galleries at least provide ordinary passersby a chance to go beyond the pleasures of shopping to appreciate the beauty of a photograph.
EpSITE Shanghai
Opening hour: 10am-9pm
Address: B1, 1/F, 651 Huaihai Rd M.
Tel: 5306-7711
Shanghai Wally's Photo Gallery
Opening hour: 10am-7pm
Address: 1/F, 300 Huaihai Rd M.
Tel: 6335-3352
Salon Vogue
Opening hour: 10am-7pm
Address: LG/F, 1168 Nanjing Rd W.
Tel: 6218-0180 ext 180
Admission varies according to each exhibition
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