Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai Explores Contemporary Chinese Design and Highlights Masters of 20th Century Modernism
Partner and Satellite Programing Also Announced
Shanghai, November 1, 2021 – The inaugural edition of Design Miami/Podium in Shanghai takes place November 4 – 14, 2021, coinciding with Shanghai Art Week. Located on the city’s historic Bund at No. 1 Wai Tan Yuan, the Shanghai fair is presented in partnership with Made in House and co-hosted by Hantang Culture. Curated by outgoing Curatorial Director, Aric Chen, and Deputy Curator (Shanghai), Violet Ruhui Wang, Design Miami/Podium x Shanghai is Design Miami’s first collectible design event in Asia.
Highlights from the 5 gallery booths and 25 podium exhibitors will explore the theme “Wu Gan: The Art of Design”, investigating design as an art form through 20th century and contemporary works, while drawing on Chinese culture’s historical relationship with fine objects to prompt new interpretations in a contemporary, global context.
Jennifer Roberts, Design Miami/ CEO says, “This debut edition of Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai is a celebration of the exceptional design talent that exists within China while also showcasing the very best of historic and contemporary design from our expert line-up of international galleries. While we look forward to welcoming new and old friends to Design Miami/ x Podium Shanghai in November we are also very pleased to be able to offer a robust digital experience for our international audiences - from shoppable works online to our curated DM/BX offering as well as a great selection of digital talks - this will be a truly global affair”.
Gallery and Podium Highlights/
Across the Podium exhibition and gallery booths, Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai will highlight exceptional international and Chinese talent including both historic and contemporary masterpieces.
20th Century Modernism/
Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai and its galleries will present a selection of pieces that succinctly illustrate the diversity of modernisms that so iconically define 20th century design, from well known-European classics, including the work of Jean Prouvé and Pierre Jeanneret, to examples of modernisms that emerged elsewhere in the world, ranging from an exquisite selection of Shanghai Art Deco from the artist Ding Yi’s Art & Deco Gallery Shanghai, to a rare 1950s Zig Zag chair by Lina Bo Bardi and Giancarlo Palanti of the Brazilian studio d’Arte Palma shown by Nilufar Gallery.
Boundary Blurring/
The exhibition will illustrate how many Chinese designers are operating across and between disciplinary boundaries, evoking the historical lack of distinction between art forms in China. Jiang Sheng, celebrated for his sublime contemporary Buddhist sculptures, will present a more than 3-meter-high standing Bodhisattva, one of his largest pieces to date. Also included will be the likes of Xu Zhen and Zhou Yilun, practitioners who work fluidly across contemporary art and design, joined by similarly boundary-breaking designers from abroad such as Daniel Arsham, Virgil Abloh, Rick Owens and Misha Kahn.
Craft and Continuity/
The exhibition will highlight how contemporary Chinese designers are experimenting with traditional crafts and craftsmanship to take them in striking new directions, whether through the work of Lin Fanglu, this year's international Loewe Craft Prize winner, with her fiber works made in collaboration with ethnic minority artisans in Yunnan province; the innovative ceramics of Hao Zhenhan, based in the historic porcelain center of Jingdezhen; or Li Naihan, with her exquisite lacquer furniture.
DM/BX
Visitors to Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai will also be able to experience DM/BX, the newly launched online shop by Design Miami/, in person. Highlighting works by locally-based designers, DM/BX will celebrate contemporary works that touch on traditional crafts and traditions such as designer Pili Wu’s Plastic Classic chair which integrates the elegant curves of the iconic Ming dynasty round-back chair and the seat of a quotidian plastic chair. These DM/BX works shown on-site in Shanghai will also be available to shop online, expanding the reach of these unique artists to Design Miami’s global audience.
Art & Deco Gallery presents 'Shanghai Art Deco rosewood inlaid gall wood circle geometric linear dining chairs'. Image courtesy of Art & Deco Gallery.
Galerie Patrick Seguin presents 'S.A.M. no. 506 table' (ca. 1951), 'Metropole no. 305 chairs' (ca. 1950), 'Panel with portholes' (1950) and 'Swing-jib lamp no. 602' (1952) by Jean Prouve. Image courtesy of Galerie Patrick Seguin.
Galleries/
Five international galleries will present standalone booths in Shanghai, representing the very best of historic and contemporary design to a new audience. New York-based R & Company will showcase works by icons such as Wendell Castle and Gerrit Rietveld alongside new ceramics by Katie Stout. Galerie Patrick Seguin will present a number of classic works by iconic French designers including Jean Prouvé, demonstrating the gallery’s expertise inhighlighting the talents of French mid-century design in the international market. Joseph Walsh Studio presents a unique edition of the Lumenoria Dining Table, accompanied by two further pieces from the Rinn series: the Enignum Rinn Shelf and Enignum Rinn Chairs. The unique pieces are formed from white ash, white bone finish, and clear cast resin. ‘Rinn’ is a Gaelic word, which can be translated from the Irish language as a place, point or headland.
Patrick Seguin says: "We are very glad to take part in this first edition of Design Miami / Podium x Shanghai. We do really strive to connect with Chinese collectors and already are in contact with some established personalities. We see our participation to the fair as a fantastic way to strengthen our connections with new and more established generations of collectors alike. We are thrilled to promote the work of Jean Prouvé in China, where most may not be familiar with his pioneering works yet."
PearlLam Galleries will present a group show featuring a A.A. Murakami (the artist duo behind Studio Swine), Zhiqi Ni, Danful Yang, and Enrico Marone Cinzano. The Shanghai-based Danful Yang explores the idea of reinventing traditional Chinese art and craft techniques while utilizing conceptual design ideology to create playful and visually dynamic pieces. A highlight is her iconic ‘Fake Chair’, a hybrid amalgamation of Chinese and western Rococo styles, upholstered with counterfeit designer handbags. Gallery All will also highlight local designers with new work from Hua Wang and Daishi Luo.
The Hybrid Experience: Talks Program, 3D Tours and Shoppable Works/
Presented both in-person and online, the Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai talks program will cover a range of topics, from “Another Modern: Shanghai Art Deco” to “Collectible Design in China, in the World” and “Expanding Craft: Different Meanings of Handmade.” Celebrated panelists include Chinese contemporary artist Ding Yi, designer, Alexander Groves, interior designer, Ju Bin, and pianist and composer Yang Bao, among others. Notable highlights of Design Miami’s online event experience include 3D tours of the exhibition in Shanghai powered by Matterport technology and curated by thought leaders such as Wallpaper China and interior designer, gallerist and Made In House founder, Chris Shao. In addition, all exhibited works on the show floor will be available to purchase at designmiami.com for a limited time.
Additional Programming/
.jpg "Ithri presents 'Zenobia Collection Drop' by Nada Debs (2021). Image courtesy of Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council")
.jpg "Image courtesy of Feng J")
Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades
Since its establishment in 1854, as a pioneer in the design world, Louis Vuitton has always foreseen and led trends, keeping pace with the evolution of lifestyle. At Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai, Louis Vuitton will present The Objets Nomades featuring Dolls chairs from Raw Edges Design Studio. Each chair is inspired by different cultures, heritage and traditional crafts from all over the world. Both the back and the surface of the chair can be individually "decorated." At the same time, the customized shell-like back shape is particularly unique, echoing the tradition of Louis Vuitton customizing exclusive suitcases for customers for more than 160 years. This collection fulfills Louis Vuitton's commitment to establish a new definition of "the art of travel" in home life. In addition to showing the perspective of travel, the Objets Nomades series also tells a story about transformation, life-changing encounters and unexpected discoveries. Such innovation can only be realized by designers who combine the wisdom of life and creative talents.
Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council presents Irthi’s Series
Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council seeks to create a valued women-artisan economy by creating a sustainable market in which re-contextualized traditional crafts and crafted products exist. Engaging with women artisans across the UAE, wider Middle East, North Africa, South and Southeast Asia regions, Irthi empowers them economically and socially through vocational training and upskilling programmes, ensuring the preservation of Indigenous craft heritage. At Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai, Irthi will showcase the Irthi Series, a collection that makes everyday luxury a possibility through the creation of uniquely designed yet functional objects for the home. Released through a series of ‘drops’٬ the collection allows personal space to become a canvas for traditionally crafted products that add beauty and joy to your living space.
Perrier-Jouet: Studio Metamorphosis bar installation
Maison Perrier-Jouët continues its collaboration with Italian designer Andrea Mancuso, presenting the Metamorphosis bar at Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai. Mancuso was inspired by a visit to Perrier-Jouët in Epernay, where he was moved by the ethereal atmosphere of the shadowy silence he discovered in the cellars, and the vibrant colours and light of the House’s vineyards. His interpretation of this experience aims to stimulate the curiosity of the viewer and interact with them by intercepting the familiar with the unexpected. The shape of the ceramic pieces in the structure recalls bottles maturing in the cellars, while the palette forms an image of the Perrier-Jouët vineyard during the harvest. A collection of six different glasses take inspiration from six cuvees, each with a unique history and personality, which Mancuso has interpreted with a dedicated glass.
FENG J Haute Joaillerie
Established in Paris by prominent Chinese high jewelry artist and leading jewelry designer FENG J, FENG J Haute Joaillerie is a high jewelry house producing extraordinary, one-of-a-kind treasures on par with the top jewelry maisons in the world. FENG’s art jewelry is unique and innovative, known for creative color combinations, “Double Rose-cut ”gems and the innovative ‘Floating Set ’ technique pioneered by FENG that allows gemstones to appear floating in the air. At Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai, FENG J Haute Joaillerie will present “A Window with A View,” a site-specific jewelry installation in collaboration with botanical art creator Bryant Lee, that will explore the possibilities between jewelry and contemporary art and design. Inspired by FENG’s visit to Claude Monet’s Jardin de Giverny, this installation will showcase pieces from “The Garden of Impressionism” collection, an homage to the master impressionist and his garden.
Louis XIII presents a collaboration with Yang Bao & Liu Wa
LOUIS XIII is an exquisite blend sourced from Grande Champagne, the first cru of the Cognac region. The legendary decanters have been mouth‐blown by some of the most skilled master craftsmen for generations. Each decanter is the life achievement of generations of Cellar Masters. Since its origins in 1874, each generation of Cellar Master selects from the cellars the most precious eaux‐de‐vie for LOUIS XIII. Today, Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau is setting aside our finest eaux‐de‐vie as a legacy to his successors for the coming century.
At Design Miami/Podium x Shanghai, LOUIS XIII will present an ever-changing visual soundscape designed by Liu Wa and Yang BAO. Two art pieces Hear a Century Ahead and Organ Timer, are shown in the indoor and outdoor spaces. These works are inspired by the spirit of LOUIS XIII — “Think a Century Ahead". For LOUIS XIII, time is circular. Its perpetual movement combines past and future into one single moment of excellence. Likewise, this multi-sensory installation allows itself to grow and evolve spontaneously over time, regenerating itself into a "soundmass" with mesmerizing changes in color and texture, allowing us to hear a century ahead.
Tai Ping Carpets presents “The Whispers Series” by Danful Yang
Tai Ping is a custom handmade and woven carpet manufacturer that has won international acclaim for its innovative design, superior quality, and unparalleled concierge service. For over six decades, Tai Ping has been creating meticulously-crafted products that are admired and celebrated by the world's most discerning clientele. For Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai, Tai Ping has teamed up with Chinese artist and designer Danful Yang to debut a new collaboration entitled “The Whispers Series.” The collaboration reinterprets signatures from one of Yang’s most lauded series “Packing Me Softly” in a fresh handmade format for Tai Ping. Yang’s playful cross-cultural works incorporate objects and materials in unexpected juxtapositions, blending craftsmanship with tongue-in-cheek modern aesthetics. The aesthetics of taped-up packaging boxes for goods takes centre stage in her exploration of relations between people, commodities and the environment.
Poliform: Design Talks Theater
Poliform presents a new installation at Design Miami / Podium x Shanghai dedicated to the photographic project “Time, Light, Space”: an exclusive body of work created by photographer Paolo Roversi in his journey into Poliform design and history. The installation within the Exhibition Hall encourages visitors to “experience” the representation through an immersive gallery of images and videos stimulating a variety of senses rather than simply looking at a static object. The Exhibition Hall, also home to the Design Talks, is entirely furnished with Poliform products like the iconic Mad Chairs and Mad Queen by Marcel Wanders Studio and the new Saint-Germain sofa, Le Club armchair and Orbit coffee tables by Jean-Marie Massaud.
Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai Galleries/
Galerie Patrick Seguin/ Paris
R & Company/ New York
PearlLam Galleries/ Hong Kong
Gallery All/ Shanghai
Joseph Walsh Studio/ Cork, Ireland
Podium Exhibitors/
André Fu/ Hong Kong
Art & Deco Gallery Shanghai/ Shanghai
Art+ Shanghai Gallery/ Shanghai
Carpenters Workshop Gallery/ London, Paris, New York
Cristina Grajales Gallery/ New York
Etage Projects/ Copenhagen
Friedman Benda/ New York
Gallery Sohe/ Hangzhou
Hao Zhenhan/ Jingdezhen
Heatherwick Studio/ London
JiangJiaban /Xiamen
Li Naihan/ Shanghai
MadeIn Gallery/ Shanghai
Mindy Solomon Gallery/ Miami
Moderne Gallery/ Philadelphia
Neri&Hu Design and Research Office/ Shanghai
Nilufar Gallery/ Milan
Objective Gallery/ Shanghai
Ornamentum/ Hudson, New York
RÉN SPACE/ Shanghai
Salon 94 Design/ New York
SIDE Gallery/ Barcelona
The Future Perfect/ Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
The Wrong Shop/ London
Volume Gallery/ Chicago
DM/BX Exhibitors/
HAN Gallery/ Shanghai
neooold/ Hangzhou
Room 6 x 8/ Beijing
Schedule of Events/
Preview Day/ By Invitation Only
Thursday, November 4th/
VIP and Press Preview/ 1PM – 7:30PM
Friday, November 5th/
VIP Preview/ 11AM – 7:30PM
Public Show Days/
Saturday, November 6th/ 11AM – 7PM
Sunday, November 7th/ 11AM – 7PM
Monday, November 8th/ 11AM – 7PM
Tuesday, November 9th/ 11AM – 7PM
Wednesday, November 10th/ 11AM – 7PM
Thursday, November 11th/ 11AM – 7PM
Friday, November 12th/ 11AM – 7PM
Saturday, November 13th/ 11AM – 7PM
Sunday, November 14th/ 11AM – 6PM
Notes to Editors
About Made in House/
Made in House (MIH) is a creative consultancy and art advisory headquartered in Shanghai, China, with a focus in the commercial and hotel real estate sector. The company was established by a team of specialists in design, art and strategy development. MIH creates impact and longevity for projects seeking to define their place in China's real estate landscape. By helping companies build-out their brand architecture and art programs with a tailored voice, MIH strives to create both impact and relevance for the contemporary Chinese audience.
About Hantang Culture/
Established in 2003, Hantang Culture is a Chinese Media group based in Shanghai, with an international reputation for customizing creative video content and digital marketing solutions for luxury brands. Guided by its philosophy of “beauty personified, cultivated worldwide,” it has taken the lead in promoting East-West cultural exchanges that focus on the art of living and the excellence industry. Hantang Culture is the co-host for Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai.