TAIN, John; YUNG, Anthony (eds.)
Uncooperative Contemporaries: Art Exhibitions in Shanghai in 2000

Shanghai’s ‘exhibition frenzy’ in 2000 presented conflicting positions at a transitional moment for ‘global’ contemporary art. This book explores what was at stake for modernity, contemporaneity, nationalism, internationalism and globalism in the city at the time, while looking back from diverse perspectives today. Landmark artist-led initiatives are analysed alongside the state-led Shanghai Biennale, then in its third edition, with the terrain further complicated by public interventions and commercial initiatives. What contrasting modes of public address were developed? How did visitors engage at the time, and how may we engage afresh now? And how might this moment in Shanghai index wider transformations of the art field? [publisher’s note]

With essays by Jane DeBevoise, Lee Weng Choy, Mia Yu, Carol Yinghua Lu and Liu Ding; archival texts by Xu Hong and Zhou Zixi; reflections from participants such as Ai Weiwei, Chen Lingyang, Chen Yanyin, Feng Boyi, Hou Hanru, Li Liang, Li Xiangyang, Li Xu, Liang Shaoji, Xu Zhen, Yang Zhenzhong, Yang Zhichao, Zhang Qing, Zheng Shengtian and Zhu Yu, assembled by Anthony Yung; and an introduction by John Tain.

This book is part of the Exhibition Histories series by Afterall Books.

Published by Afterall Books, 2020
Design by Andrew Brash
Essays / Curatorial Studies