SHANGHAI—In the early years of the Shanghai Gallery of Art, which opened in 2004, the press showered attention on its director Weng Ling, who was handpicked by Handel Lee, of Beijing’s Courtyard Gallery, considered by many to be one of the best galleries in China (Lee is no longer involved in the space).With a glittering background and experience in the jam-packed Beijing art scene, Weng brought major connections in both the art world and the government. She was also well known for her resplendent list of artist friends such as Zeng Hao and Fang Lijun, some of whom were her classmates at the Central Academy of Fine Art in Beijing. But, as is typical on the Shanghai art scene, Weng’s presence was never secured, and she is returning to Beijing to pursue personal projects.

Replacing Weng is David Chan, who served as a curator during Weng’s tenure and who by all indications will change the direction of the gallery. While Weng was known for emphasizing the commercial aspects of the space, which does not represent artists and is therefore not a gallery in the traditional sense, she was criticized for showing only established artists and not courting emerging ones. Chan, however, worked closely with artists to challenge them and to put together thought-provoking shows, particularly site-specific works that he has said circumvented the limitations of the space, which offers plenty of challenges given that the historical building includes an unalterable atrium running through the middle of the gallery.

Chan’s previous efforts have resulted in some of the more interesting shows in Shanghai in the past few years, including the current installation by Liu Jianhua. The artist has expanded on his Cargo piece from the 2006 Shanghai Biennale and filled the SGA with plastic waste from China’s ports—a commentary on China’s role as a mecca for the world’s garbage. Last year’s exhibition “City in Progress: Live from Zhang Jiang” saw some of China’s brightest young artists, including video artist Song Tao and provocateur Xu Zhen, embark on a large-scale public project in collaboration with the Zhang Jiang high-tech park in Pudong that questioned art’s role in an increasingly industrialized country such as China [See ARTINFO's review of "City in Progress" here]. 

Looking forward, Chan says, “As I take over the reins of the gallery, I would like the space to be even more curatorially driven. I want to continue to foster a dialogue between the artists and curator, and really engage the local scene.”

Shanghai will catch a glimpse of what he has in store when SGA unveils its new program in January.