Three of the best
It’s why we’re all
here – the art.
There are loads
of galleries at
M50, and it’s hard
to figure out which
are potential potholes
for your wallet and which
offer quality art on the cheap.
We’ve got you covered. Pick up an
M50 map inside any of the main
galleries, and then head to these
three for the perfect taste of what
the district is all about.
Building 18, 11am-6pm Wed-Sun
This non-profit creative gallery-cum-research-centre
is constantly
churning out unique and fun
exhibitions. The shows are
usually free (or near enough),
and having hosted events like
the infamous ‘Smell Dating’ back
in 2016 – where visitors found
dates based on the smell of their
sweat – it’s your best bet for some
interactive and quirky art.
CAC’s
first exhibition of 2017 is Polar
[mirrored], a collaborative project
by Slovenian theatre and radio
director Marco Peljhan
and German artist
and musician
Carsten
Nicolai. The
exhibition,
on show
from
March 18,
sees the
creators
present a
series of
sci-fi fantastic
objects,
including a
cloud chamber,
high frequency radio
receivers and Geiger counters,
aimed at questioning the relevance
of the audience and prioritising the
art as an autonomous subject in an
infinite universe.
Building 6, 10am-7pm daily
If interaction and quirk are what
you’re after, you’d better check
out the Island6 digital collective,
who have been based in the heart
of M50 for over ten years. The
group display wacky multimedia
artworks, with neon, LED and
downright unclassifiable creations
served up with a side of sass and
some tongue-in-cheek sarcasm.
The gallery is free, and the gang are
also known for throwing kickass
opening parties.
Building 4A, 11am-6pm Tues-Sun
For some art that’s less likely
to answer you back, Vanguard
is another free gallery, offering
impressive paintings, prints,
photography and more from a host
of exciting Chinese artists. For
2017, Vanguard Gallery sees three
exhibitions by young solo artists
Zhu Changquan, Yi Xin Tong and
Tang Chao, with a focus on new
media and conceptual art. The first
exhibition of the year by Shandongborn
Zhu Changquan aims to
analyse daily behaviours to reveal
what he coins ‘the rule of daily life’.
Coffee break
If all that art leaves you thirsty
for a place to sit and reflect,
UNDEF/NE is
your go-to café for brilliant coffee
(25RMB for an Americano) and a
killer chocolate brownie (30RMB).
On a busy weekend you’re likely to
find yourself surrounded by artistic
youngsters typing on MacBooks
and trying to snap the perfect
WeChat moment against the fairy
lights and exposed brick panelling.
The coffee is arguably some of
the best in the city, and the team
behind the café regularly host art and performance exhibitions of
their own, in collaboration with
local creatives.
Cheap eats
M50 itself is a bit short on eats
(unless you’re down for filling up
on chocolate brownies), but you
can get decent food at reasonable
prices at
Bandu Cabin. There’s
a nice outside space for sunnier
days and a menu of noodles,
dumplings, drinks and snacks.
The restaurant boasts regular live
music performances and a relaxed,
cheerful ambience. There’s also an
ice-cream truck in the centre of the
M50 courtyard, so you could just
skip lunch altogether.
Take something home
If the day’s left you feeling inspired
by this great creative city of ours
(and why wouldn’t it?) head to
XMJ Photography for beautiful,
vibrant prints of Shanghai,
including unique phone cases and
other accessories. Poster prints
for your walls start at 150RMB,
and the shop is worth a look for the
warm and fuzzy feels alone.
Before you go
If you went to M50 and didn’t take
a selfie with the iconic graffiti wall,
did you even go to M50? Arguably
the most celebrated wall in China
(sorry, Beijing) make sure you
get your Insta-shot on the way
out, and tell your friends how
cultured you are (and us too with
#timeoutshanghai).
