Art attack (2)

Several other high-end malls and multipurpose buildings are also presenting artworks in public areas or opening art spaces, such as Lane Crawford and the IAPM mall, both on the commercial center of Huaihai Middle Road.

Shanghai World Financial Center, a landmark building in the center of Lujiazui, Pudong new area, celebrated its fifth birthday with a multimedia art exhibition.

For 20 days over October and November, LED lights were projected onto the building, creating changing images designed by acclaimed artists from China and abroad. The impressive view could be seen from both sides of the Huangpu River.

The celebration featured 13 artists working with four independent curators to present 139 pieces. "Shanghai World Financial Center was the stage for them to perform and let visitors experience the charm of art," says Pan Bei, the media relations manager of the town management department at Mori Building China (Shanghai) Co Ltd, the landlord of the SWFC.

Mori Building has its Mori Museum in Roppongi Hills Mori Tower in Tokyo, Japan, a reputable establishment featuring contemporary art from all over the world. Even though SWFC has no detailed plans, it would love to establish an artistic institution like its Japanese counterpart has in Japan, "to build a bridge of art and culture between China and Japan".

"As always, we will keep on working with art and culture, especially contemporary art," Pan says.

One of the most acclaimed contemporary artists in Shanghai, Ding Yi, was invited by SWFC to create an LED lighting show that was projected on the facade of the building, as a highlight to mark the building's fifth anniversary.

"It was magnificent to see my creation so high above and so huge," the artist says.

Although only 70 percent of the creative idea from his blueprint was realized in the actual performance, Ding is excited to see how the work engaged the public.

Ding is no stranger to working with commercial entities. He was the first Chinese artist to work with French luxury brand Hermes to print scarves featuring his original design. He also worked with liquor company Johnny Walker and fashion house Zegna. He teaches public art as a professor at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Art.

Conflicts are inevitable when artists work with commercial establishments, he says.

"On the one hand, you want to keep your independence, and on the other, you want to share your perception of art with the public," he says.

The key issue is the particular location of the work. "It has to come from that particular space, and time," Ding says.

He says an artist has to study the canvas and think about how to make his or her original visual presence work in that particular context.