Art districts—A reflection on the fate of Chinese cities

Abstract

This chapter describes my experiences in the field in several of Shanghai’s art districts, including West Bund, the former French Concession Area and Red Town. It zooms out to a wider perspective of various art locations in Shanghai and studies how art districts organise people’s lives, their ecological networks and the physical distribution of their livelihood in space. Through the study of the architectural arrangement, history and activities within various districts, this chapter explores how players and art institutions operate together by creating networks of settlement. Some of these districts witnessed radical changes over the last decade because many urban developments in China are built on a pattern of demolishing and rebuilding for economic growth. This chapter will examine individual sites and observe changes over time. Given that some of the sites no longer exist, my eyewitness accounts are a valuable resource for readers.