JUE festival hits Shanghai: a night at 'Island6' art gallery

NEXT »

 

The JUE Music & Art festival has made its triumphant return to Shanghai after a successful run in 2009. Saturday night we squeezed in some time from our hectic schedule to check out the Libido, Mortido exhibition at the Island6 gallery on Moganshan Road.

Libido, Mortido is the fourth exhibition orchestrated by Island6 as an extenuation of themes related to the sub-strata of conscious/subconscious determinants and according manifestations within the creative process. This original and at times eye-popping exhibition hones upon the impulses of creative liberty and individuation and an oppositional disintegration or withdrawal in resistance to life and growth.

Co-founder, curator and artist Thomas Charvériat takes a novel approach to artistic expression by promoting the use of interactivity in art. Using and creating animatronics installations with GPS, SMS, video, sound, electronic data and humor, the viewer is able to interact with various displays. Simplicity and elegance are combined to create a multi-sensorial experience of surprise and playfulness.

One of our favorites is the mirror display entitled "Reflection". Stepping up to a seemingly regular mirror, the viewer swiftly finds him or her self staring into the eyes of a beautiful young woman (projected from the back using a two-way mirror and a video display behind the mirror) who begins unbuttoning her blouse and teasing the viewer with provocative looks. Whoa. For the timid and shy, not to worry, she stops at button number four.

If you haven't had a chance to participate in the JUE yet, there's still time! The festival itself will have shows and events up until March 29th, and the Libido, Mortido exhibition at Island6 will run 'til April 30th, so get out there and culture yourself.