Interwar Shanghai had it all: a booming economy, buzzing cultural scene and a nightlife that rivaled the world’s best. Such was its standing that it became known during that time as the “Paris of the East” – no small claim, but one that was more than justified if for no other reason than its tree-lined boulevards and majestic architecture. And if it were the Paris of the East, there’s no doubt that its Champs Elysee would have been the world-famous Bund.
The Bund, Shanghai – Past and Present
(Photo credit – Top: Leo Baeck Institute Bottom:travelwithjoshcohen.com)
Following the path of the curvilinear Huangpu River, the Bund and its architecture have stood the test of time – and war – to represent the grandeur of old Shanghai, its river-fronted buildings proudly standing to face the ‘new’ Shanghai, represented as a brash juxtaposition by the hypermodern steel structures that now populate the other side. This month, the history and majesty of the Bund will be explored in a brand new exhibition, Symphony of the Century: Exhibition of Oil Paintings on the Historical Changes of the Bund of Shanghai, a showcase of over 100 canvases by more than 80 painters to encourage the viewer to appreciate the significant heritage of the Bund. The exhibition has been brought to Shanghai by JiuShi Group, who own and manage many of the historical buildings along the Bund, and who have also commissioned over 80 artists to capture the essence of the waterfront promenade and to tell its story from its early days until now. In showcasing the Bund over its storied history, the exhibition aims to promote its cultural, architectural and artistic aspects, as well as its influence on Shanghainese culture and way of life over time. The paintings depict the Bund in vivid colour from a range of different perspectives and at different times of the year. The exhibition will not only show the architectural changes on Shanghai’s famous waterfront promenade, but also explore changes in time and culture.
Official media release by Shanghai Jiushi Group: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/t9l0UnbzaXq3HU6uwssvcg
Master Painter Mr. Fang Shicong (third from the left) and guest with representatives from P&T Group
In line with the firm’s ongoing legacy for community outreach and to prepare to celebrate its 150th Anniversary, P&T is proud to support this landmark exhibition, both as testament to the firm’s lasting legacy in Shanghai, as well as its continued role in shaping the modern metropolis. The firm’s work on the famous promenade includes the Union Building (1916), HSBC (1923), Customs House (1927), Peace Hotel (1929) and Bank of China (1937). P&T continues to shape modern Shanghai, with more recent thought-leading projects such as the award-winning The Hub, Raffles City, and 1 & 2 Corporate Avenue. Ultimately though, a city is the sum of its parts – P&T is proud to have been given the opportunity to contribute the past, present and future of Shanghai. This sentiment is echoed in this exhibition, which will both activate a sense of nostalgia while at the same time looking into what the future might hold.
(From Left to Right) Mr. Henry Yip, Architect & Director, P&T Group Shanghai; Mr. Xia Bao Yuan, Master Painter; and Mr. Cao Yi, Master Painter
Symphony of the Century is open until 15 November, 2017. See it at Hall No3-4, Liu Haisu Art Museum, Shanghai Yan'an West Road No.1609.