Works that explore Shanghai’s explosive growth
The Chinese conceptual artist, Chen Zhen, drew on his personal experiences of travel between his home country and Europe to engage in themes of social change. This exhibition in Shanghai focuses on the works that Chen, who died in 2000, created in response to the massive changes the city was undergoing. It will feature large-scale installations that reflect this urbanisation along with sketches and notes, while the show has been co-curated by Chen’s wife, Xu Min. Chen Zhen: Without Going to New York and Paris, Life Could Be Internationalised runs at the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai until October 7. For more information visit
.
Last chance to see marvellous creatures in Doha
This is a final opportunity to visit an interesting show in Doha that explores the real, and sometimes mythical, creatures that appear in the legends, tales and fables of the Islamic world. These creatures introduce well-known and beloved classics including the Shahnameh and One Thousand and One Nights.
The exhibition features manuscripts, textiles, ceramics, glass and jewellery, from the 10th to the 19th centuries, which reflect the rich diversity of art production during this time. Marvellous Creatures: Animal Fables in Islamic Art runs at the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar until July 11. For more information visit
[ www.mia.org.qa ]
.
An artist who reacted against capitalist excess
Keith Haring was an acclaimed American artist who used his work to comment on what he perceived was social injustice. His work in the 1980s, during the Ronald Reagan era, was particularly striking, and he created works of protest against capitalism, discrimination and in support of equal human rights and nuclear disarmament. This retrospective in Munich focuses on these political and social aspects of his career (he died at just 31 from Aids) and features 160 works, from New York subway drawing to sculptures. Keith Haring, The Political Line runs at the Kunsthalle München until August 30. For more information visit
.s