Cherry Xu is a Shanghai-based art collector and cultural entrepreneur. She is the founder of CHERUBY (樱桃瑚), a non-profit organisation dedicated to bridging fashion and contemporary art, which will officially launch in March 2025 with a permanent physical space. A passionate advocate for the arts, Cherry is also a member of Tate’s Asia-Pacific Acquisitions Committee and recently completed a collector residency at the Delfina Foundation in London. Her love for fashion and art fuels her vision to cultivate creative collaborations and support emerging talent. Cherry is also a Shanghai native, and below is her guide to Shanghai this week.
What are you up to in Shanghai this week?
This week, I’m fully immersed in Shanghai Art Week, attending exhibitions, and connecting with artists and curators from around the world. I’m also finalising details for CHERUBY’s upcoming exhibition at Suhe Haus, making sure it reflects the vibrant energy of Shanghai’s art scene.
What is going on currently in Shanghai?
Shanghai Art Week is buzzing with creativity, and a highlight this year is ART IN SUHE HAUS’s “Tomorrow in HAUS” programme, featuring Duyi Han: Visions of Bloom, the inaugural exhibition by CHERUBY (樱桃瑚), curated by Claire Shiying Li. This groundbreaking show opens with a vernissage on 8th November and brings together Duyi Han’s research into alternative architectural histories with cutting-edge technology and innovative production techniques, offering viewers an immersive, cross-disciplinary experience.
Visions of Bloom includes a captivating mix of works, such as the expansive Proteine Grottesche, a floor-to-ceiling installation that transforms the space with intricate, organic forms. The exhibition also features the animated video Visions of Bloom, which reimagines artefacts as natural, living creatures, blurring the lines between past and future, artificial and organic. Additionally, pieces like the collectible bench Synthesis of ATP, adorned with embroidered upholstery, and a series of framed silk embroideries showcase Duyi’s meticulous approach to craftsmanship and his vision of merging art with nature in a futuristic context. This debut exhibition offers a unique lens into the evolving boundaries of art, architecture, and technology.
What should our readers expect from Shanghai Art Week?
Shanghai Art Week is a dynamic celebration filled with diverse exhibitions, art fairs, and cultural events. Major art fairs like ART021 and West Bund Art & Design draw international galleries and collectors, adding a global flair to the local scene. Museums and galleries unveil new exhibitions, while the social calendar brims with galas, dinners, and afterparties. It’s a thrilling time to experience Shanghai’s vibrant cultural pulse—an inspiring blend of tradition and innovation that showcases the city’s creative energy in full swing.
Where should our readers go shopping in Shanghai?
For fashion enthusiasts, I recommend boutiques like eth0s, LMDS, and ENG, where fashion meets artistry through carefully curated collections. For vintage treasures, Terminal69 offers an edgy, rare selection. And if you’re looking for standout pieces from Chinese designers, Labelhood is the go-to boutique.
What will you be wearing to parties this week?
For example, at the Rockbund Art Museum’s gala with its “Chinatown Sirens” theme, I’ll be wearing a Samuel Gui Yang Tang-style jacket paired with a Doublet shark-tail skirt. This look blends contemporary Chinese design with a playful twist, allowing me to honour Shanghai’s heritage while embracing its bold fashion scene.
What art recommendations do you have for our readers?
Beyond Art Week’s main events, venues like Antenna Space and Rockbund Art Museum are essential stops. Antenna Space offers global perspectives and champions young Asian artists, with Joseph Yaeger’s Heaven’s Trash exhibition on display. Rockbund Art Museum, known for its innovative exhibitions, will transform its first-floor space into a temporary “Wan Hai Hotel” installation, inviting visitors to reimagine their relationship with the ocean and explore Shanghai’s cross-cultural connections.
Shanghai is also home to numerous vibrant art hubs. Suhe Haus is one such destination, featuring multiple exhibitions across its floors, including Longlati Foundation. Other notable spots include Rong Zhai Fondazione Prada, the galleries Perrotin and Ota along the Bund, and the West Bund area, where Tank and Pond Society present some of the city’s most engaging contemporary art. These spaces reflect Shanghai’s dynamic and diverse art scene.
Where should they go to eat?
For breakfast, Bian Jie Dan Bing（卞姐蛋饼）offers a delicious start to the day with traditional egg pancakes. Wu You Xian（屋有鲜）is my go-to for lunch, serving some of the best xiaolongbao and conveniently close to home. For dinner, Fu 1039（福1039）provides authentic Shanghainese cuisine in a historic villa, capturing the charm of old Shanghai.
Are there any regional dishes that our readers should try while they are in town?
I recommend Benbangmian (本帮面), a beloved Shanghainese speciality with al dente noodles and various flavourful toppings. It’s an essential taste for an authentic experience of Shanghai’s local cuisine.
Are there any customs people should familiarise themselves with?
In Shanghai, digital payment methods like Alipay are widely used, and cash is rarely needed. Downloading Alipay and the DiDi ride-hailing app, and linking them to your credit card, will make your travels around the city much easier and smoother.
Are there any artists from Shanghai that our audience should familiarise themselves with?
Two Shanghai-based artists I’m particularly drawn to are Zhi Wei and Shan Liang, both of whom are reimagining contemporary art with fresh, thought-provoking perspectives.
Zhi Wei（志韦, an emerging artist with a background from the Ruskin School of Art at Oxford, explores the nuances of everyday life through digital media and unconventional materials. Their work plays with the boundaries between image and object, sincerity and superficiality, often weaving fragments of popular culture, history, and science. Zhi Wei’s pieces transform mundane moments into surreal reflections, capturing layers of meaning in a delicate balance of form and emotion.
Shan Liang (单梁), works across sculpture, installation, and animation to question identity and desire in an age of consumerism and big data. Her art brings to life a world of textures, embodying the influence of digital culture on our perceptions and emotions. With pieces that are as visually captivating as they are conceptually challenging, Shan Liang offers a critical look at mainstream values, inviting viewers to confront and rethink social norms.
These artists embody the innovative spirit of Shanghai’s art scene, offering layered, contemporary perspectives that reflect the city’s dynamic cultural landscape.
Cherry Xu is the Founder of CHERUBY (樱桃瑚), a non-profit organisation dedicated to bridging fashion and contemporary art, which will officially launch in March 2025 with a permanent bricks-and-mortar space in Shanghai. For its first project, CHERUBY will present Duyi Han: Visions of Bloom, curated by Claire Shiying Li at Suhe Haus during Shanghai Art Week. The exhibition runs 8 November 2024 – 25 January 2025.
