Photo by Dan Peterson

Lorenzo Rudolf

© Folkert de Jong, photo by Aatjan Renders, courtesy James Cohan Gallery

At James Cohan Gallery's ShContemporary booth: Folkert de Jong, "Usual Business" (detail) (2008)

Richard Long Lawrence Weiner Liu Wei Zhan Wang Zhang Ding Yang Maoyuan Folkert de Jong Colin Chinnery on the Future of ShContemporary

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At Art Basel’s helm, Rudolf, who trained in international affairs and law, became known for his global outlook and commitment to broadening artistic horizons, introducing the critically lauded Art Statements and Art Unlimited platforms to the fair as well as conceiving the successful sister event in Miami Beach.

Rudolf left Art Basel in 2000, but after three years as director of the Frankfurt Book Fair and three as vice president of International Fine Art Expositions in Palm Beach, Florida, Rudolf returned to fair directing to co-found ShContemporary with Geneva-based dealer Pierre Huber (who was barred from this year's event for controversial business dealings). The event has quickly become one of the Asian art world’s most anticipated, drawing an impressive 140-plus dealers from 27 countries for this year’s edition, on view September 10 to 13.

ARTINFO spoke with Rudolf about the fair’s role and aspirations.

Lorenzo, how would you describe ShContemporary in the context of the art market in China?

ShContemporary is not a Chinese fair. It is held in China, but it is an international fair with a special focus on Asia. Due to the social liberalizations in large sections of Asia today, very active and exciting art scenes have developed all over the place. The explosive growth among the wealthy, local upper and middle classes is also producing new collectors.

China is establishing its own scene where global taste is being forged. China in 2008 reminds me a bit of America in the 1970s and early 1980s, when there was incredible artistic experimentation. The art and gallery district 798 in Beijing is more exciting than Chelsea in New York today, which is a little sedate and a little too academic. I don’t know any other art scene at the moment that has a comparable output of new, astonishing artists. This artistic development also has its impact on the local market. Many younger and educated (urban) people are beginning to buy contemporary art; as in the West, contemporary art also has become an interesting field for many Chinese to invest in.

What kind of visitors are you expecting?

This year, the openings of China’s Shanghai Biennale, Guangzhou Triennale, and Nanjing Triennale are all happening at the same time. In addition to Asian collectors and professionals, I expect many of their Western peers will come to Shanghai, including some of the biggest European and American contemporary collectors. Museums like MoMA in New York are coming with groups, and there are even several Latin American collectors coming. This concentration of quality and professionalism will have a big impact.  

How will this year’s fair be different from last year’s?

ShContemporary 2008 will be much more spectacular. After the success of last year, many new international galleries are coming to the fair, including PaceWildenstein, Lehmann Maupin, Corkin, Karsten Greve, Buchmann, Polígrafa, and Roslyn Oxley9 — all of whom, by the way, are also Art Basel exhibitors. Some of them will have booths and presentations bigger than those at any other art fair worldwide.

What is your vision for the Best of Discovery section, which is billed as a showcase for new talent?

Best of Discovery is a curated (market) platform for some of the most interesting emerging artists from the entire Asia Pacific region, artists with the potential to become the stars of tomorrow. Selected by 10 specialized curators from across Asia, the section will feature 30 stunning projects, all created especially for the fair and presented in a museum-like exhibition organized by one of China’s most important and best known curators, Huang Du. Many of these artists will be presented to an international audience for the first time. The show offers a real opportunity to discover firsthand great artistic talent from all over Asia.