SURGE Art Fairs showcase hundreds of works of art from up and coming artists from China and internationally. All works displayed at the fairs are priced at under 30,000RMB. The event is free to get in and open to all.
SURGE Art Shanghai will be the only major independent art fair in Shanghai in 2013 and is expecting to attract up to 30,000 visitors. The fair will hold a series of education programs and talks over the course of the four day event.
A leading panel of experts in contemporary art will select Art works that will be shown at both fairs. The jury includes:
· Bao Yifeng - Founder of Liquid Element PR company, collector and supporter of emerging arts.
· Du Xiyun – Curator of major shows at the Today Art Museum Beijing and Tianjin Art Museum
· Shen Qibin – Curator of Shanghai Himalaya Art Museum and former director of Zhendai Modern Art Museum
· Sun Dongdong – Curator and senior editor of LEAP! Magazine
· Xu Zhen – Shanghai based artist who has exhibited at Venice Biennale and MOMA New York
“Without a starting point there would be no destination,” said judge Sun Dongdong. “SURGE Art is creating a new artistic lifestyle for the public.”
Du Xiyun said that through new platforms and new ways of experiencing new it will create a new awareness of art in the community.
“We are honoured to count these experts among our jury,” said fair director Tom Pattinson. “They are giving their valuable time to help promote emerging artists and help discover the stars of tomorrow.”
SURGE Art has spent eight years discovering and promoting creative talent in China and providing them with a platform to showcase their works to a wide audience of collectors, art lovers and art professionals.
Che Kuai, a graduate from the Central Academy of Fine Arts , took part in 2013 "Surge Art Beijing this year. It was the first time she took part in an art fair. "I exhibited four works and sold two," she said. “SURGE Art provided me with a valuable opportunity and also a large amount of publicity in domestic and foreign media so thousands of people saw my work."
Artist Lu Zhe, exhibited six works in the recent Beijing fair and sold four. “The quality and results of the fair are both excellent,” he said. “I feel honoured to have been selected for the fair and look forward to participating again in the future."
CAFA graduate, Zhang Duobao has taken part in five fairs with SURGE Art and sold seven works. “SURGE Art is an important platform that has helped create my career as an artist,” he said.
“It is very exciting to be able to show these great works to such a large audience in Shanghai and to finally bring the fair to Chengdu,” said Pattinson. “It is important that contemporary art can be enjoyed and collected by everyone – not just the super rich, not just those in Beijing but all over China from all backgrounds.”
Artists from across China are considered for the fair and applications to all. Many well-known artists including Sheng Qi, Hei Yue and Zhou Jun have participated in the fairs and many others have launched their careers at the events. Artists including Liu Aijing, Chen Linggang, Liu Zhonghua and Li Jinguo have all risen to prominence through the support of SURGE Art.
SURGE Art was known as Affordable Art China until 2012, when it launched the new brand SURGE Art.
