MOCA Shanghai

It was a blisteringly hot day, so Mom and I decided to check out a museum. I'm partial to modern art museums, so I suggested MOCA Shanghai. The museum is located inside People's Park, nestled in trees and right by the water lily pond. We entered the building through large glass doors, into an airy atrium where a walkway swooped up to the second floor. I read that the museum was formerly a greenhouse and the designers wanted to maintain the glass facades...only I don't think they figured out how to ventilate the place so that it would not feel like a greenhouse inside. We tried to give each exhibit our full attention, but we quickly ended up at the cafe/restaurant, where we used our ticket stubs for a discount on otherwise overpriced iced drinks to cool off.

We both reflected on how poorly some of the installations had been implemented (video rooms that were not properly soundproofed or dark enough, general lack of cohesion or impressiveness), but then read in the pamphlet that the museum is independently run, i.e. not government funded. My guess is that China doesn't have an established network or structure for fundraising in the modern arts, so for now it looks like MOCA Shanghai will be at a bit of a disadvantage as compared to the more famous Shangahi Art Museum.

I did enjoy one particular installation at the museum (pictured above): a miniature metropolis made of recycled rusty metal scraps. Makes one think of urban decay.