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After attending the massive NeoSpring Creative Festival on Suzhou Creek, Shanghaiist had high hopes for the so called Creative Box, or Ushigokoro. The concept behind this gallery is displaying art in tiny boxes; anyone can apply to display their works. They currently have an exhibition called "Lost and Found", in which participants bring in whatever they find on the street to add to the exhibition. The rest of the gallery is filled from floor to ceiling with 20 x 30 x 20 cm boxes that display everything from postcards to T-shirts to jewelry.
Neat idea maybe, but why exactly would they use tiny boxes, especially when one can have a cool artistic event in a huge warehouse on the Suzhou Creek, as the NeoSpring Festival did (similar concept, on a grander scale). Maybe in Japan, where is space is limited and above all expensive, this idea of using as little space as possible would take off (it is supposedly very popular over there). But this is Shanghai, space is not a problem and walking through a teeny tiny gallery looking at what ultimately are miniature boutiques is not our idea of a fun, or creative, Sunday afternoon.
We did not find anything that struck us as particularly innovative or all that creative (photos from Tibet? Seen that. Cool T-shirts? Done that). But their website makes it sound like they have a lot more in store in the future; perhaps we’ll go back there in a few months and see if the selection has improved. Ushigokoro is located under Diage, a restaurant and bar on Donghu Lu that has “painting” Sundays where they provide canvases and paint for those who like to let their creative juices flow while drinking heavily.
Ushigokoro, 20 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Lu, below Diage. Tel: 13621797738.
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I think this review is a bit harsh. What's the big deal with the fact that the space is small? Don't good things come in small packages? If everyone had the money and space to have huge warehouses, that would be really cool. Anyway - the Neocha event was an event,no? not a permanent thing, whereas Ushigokoro is a shop. Not many people can afford to rent a place that huge on a permanent basis. If you look around Shanghai, you will notice that not many shops are huge. Also, if the boxes are small, then that provides more space for more people to get their stuff out there. Then, as for the actual stuff itself...well, it's like when you go to an art gallery and you see a huge blue canvas and you think...hmm - could have done that myself..but you didn't or you think..seen that before, but at least that person has a creative urge and is releasing it by making stuff. So, why be so down on them? That's what websites like flickr, places like Ushigokoro (and maybe that new place The Studio - have yet to check it out) are for - to encourage people to be creative and share it.
I thought it was kind of cute, especially the mural on the wall. Definitely a good place to buy cool gifts.