ShContemporary 2007 - A new match point for the art scene comes from Asia. The art world has a new destination on its 2007 agenda. ShContemporary the new Asian Pacific contemporary art fair, represents a unique opportunity for the global art market. It will inaugurate the first edition in Shanghai from 6th to 9th September 2007. Created by a strong partnership of three leading experts in the field: Lorenzo A. Rudolf, former director of Art Basel, Pierre Huber, well known Swiss art dealer and collector, and BolognaFiere Spa, presided by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, and organized in cooperation with the city of Shanghai, ShContemporary promises to open new doors for top international galleries and collectors in one of the most important future markets.ShContemporary will define a new approach to art into a real structural relationship between the local context and the international market. The fair will be held at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, located in the centre of the city. Shanghai, designated the traditional gate to China, has been chosen due to its main role as the economic, lifestyle and cultural core of the Asian Pacific area. The city is a match point between Eastern and Western cultures and establishes a framework for a new stage on which the international cultural scene can unfold.ShContemporary will become a destination among the elite of the world’s art collectors - providing a new territory of discovery for them - as well as offering a point of encounter for potentially new collectors, the leading future Asian generation.New MatchpointThe art world has a new destination on its 2007 agenda. ShContemporary the new Asian Pacific contemporary art fair, representing a unique challenge for the global art market, will inaugurate its first edition in Shanghai from 6th to 9th September 2007. The combination of explosive growth among the wealthy Asian upper and middle class and the recent trends towards Asian contemporary art (Japan, China, India, etc.) have created a market searching for development and enlargement of offer within the Asian Pacific geographical area. ShContemporary aims to create a key opportunity for networking the best galleries, dealers, artists, collectors, professionals and art enthusiasts in the Asian Pacific and the top international areas as well as developing and stimulating existing and emerging markets, enabling new interaction and exchange between the Asian and the Western art scene. Strong TeamCreated by a strong partnership of three leading experts in the field of modern and contemporary art, international art fairs as well as trade show business ShContemporary will be realized by: BolognaFiere spa, organizing company: As one of Europe’s leading fair organizers, presided by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo (president Italian industries’ association, president FIAT, president Ferrari), it is a highly reputed expert in large scale exclusive lifestyle fairs with branches in the United States, Russia and, particularly China where it has become one of the main foreign trade show organizers. As owner and organizer of Arte Fiera Bologna, the most important modern and contemporary art show in Italy, it has all the operational know how and infrastructure to run a top art fair. In particular, the organization in China of SH Contemporary will be directed and guaranteed by special BolognaFiere offices in Shanghai.Lorenzo A. Rudolf, fair director: As director of Art Basel from 1991 to 2000, he transformed the event into the leading art fair in the world, introduced new platforms like Art Statements and Art Unlimited and subsequently invented and initiated Art Basel Miami Beach. As director of the Frankfurt Book Fair from 2000 to 2002, he headed the leading trade show for the global publishing industry and organized literature and book events worldwide. As vice president of International Fine Art Expositions (IFAE) from 2003 to 2005, he created Palm Beach! and developed it into the most exclusive fine art & antiques show in America.Pierre Huber, creative director: As important and worldwide-known art dealer (owner of the modern and contemporary art gallery art&public in Geneva) and art collector he is renowned as engaged discoverer and supporter of new artists, especially also from Asia, where he has a high reputation; he was one of the very first art dealers introducing contemporary Chinese and Indian artists to the international art market. In the nineties, as leading member of the strategic committee of Art Basel, he developed together with Lorenzo A. Rudolf the successful concept and strategy for the Swiss top event. ShContemporary is promoted by Shanghai International Cultural Communication Association, co-organized by Shanghai Art Fair Organization Committee, Eastern Shanghai International Culture Film & Television Group and Bolognafiere Group.One of the fair’s innovations will be represented by significant collaboration with one of the most important Chinese contemporary artists, Zhou Tiehai, who will provide an inside view into the context of the Chinese art scene. Prestigious PlaceShContemporary will be held at the prestigious Shanghai Exhibition Center, a historical monument – constructed in the 1950’s it was a gift by Stalin to Mao Tse Tung – located in the centre of the city, within walking distance to many hotels and restaurants, close to the Shanghai Art Museum (also the venue of the Shanghai Biennale) and MOCA, the Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art. Shanghai, designated the traditional gate to China, has been chosen due to its main role as the economic, lifestyle and cultural core of the Asian Pacific area. The city is a match point between Eastern and Western cultures and establishes a framework for a new stage on which the international cultural scene can unfold.New fairShContemporary deliberately focuses on high quality and exclusivity. The high quality of the artists and the art works presented, selected on the basis of excellent creative quality that goes beyond fashion and market trends. The exclusivity of a fair with participation based upon invitation only, as well as with a limited number; maximum 120 selected exhibiting galleries and art dealers from the Asian Pacific area (50% to 60%) and from Europe and America (40% to 50%). ShContemporary promises to open new doors: for international galleries and collectors to one of the most important future markets and vice-versa for Asian Pacific galleries and collectors to the international market. The fair will become a destination among the elite of the world’s art collectors - providing a new territory of discovery for them – as well as offering a point of encounter for potentially new collectors, the leading future Asian generation. A special program for art collectors and VIPs will be scheduled during the fair.New art, artists and artworksThe prime focus of ShContemporary is the exhibiting artists and their works. Therefore, alongside the selected artists presented by the invited Asian Pacific and international galleries and art dealers, two special platforms curated by Pierre Huber will give a very special focus on this matter:Best of Artists will show some of the most important contemporary artists, mainly from the Asian Pacific area, with special presentations and projects created exclusively for the fair.Best of Discoveries will give emerging Asian Pacific artists to show their work to the international art scene for the first time. This unusual contemporary art fair experience will be the result of an accurate research project throughout the Asian Pacific area, gathering a new generation of artists into the realm of global contemporary art system, exploring different issues and themes.PreviewShContemporary will define a new approach to art into a real structural relationship between the local context and the international market. It is the perfect response to the demands of the developing art market. The skyline of Shanghai will be drawn by a creative artistic choreography of parallel events running during the art fair. Visitors will be involved in the innovative experience of this new dynamic cultural milieu.