SHANGHAI.- The Shanghai Art Fair just opened. It will close on November 2. At Shanghai Art Fair 2003, Korea Gallery Association will be a strong vision contingent. Though attending the Fair first time, it makes skilful opening moves with such a large exhibition area of 400 square meters, which will surprise the audiences. This time more than 10 top galleries in Korea, like Keumsan Gallery, Johyun Gallery, Dong San Bang Gallery etc. and another 3 Japanese galleries united together to make up a formidable “hurricane of Korea Trend” which will forestall to land on Shanghai Art Fair. It is reported that this is the first time for foreign gallery association to take part in Chinese art fair.

The artworks brought by Korean galleries are mainly contemporary ones. Though the pictorial vocabulary and fashion of many works take abstract style as their feature, lots of works also are influenced by American Minimalism which pursues visual effect of simple and pure, our audiences will give response to those artwork whilst facing to them. As East meets West, they are lukewarm to the Western precise logic naturally based on the intuitive Oriental feeling in the flesh and blood of these Korean artists. The humanity style and aesthetic trend flowing continuously from their brushes; and what they seek to express the feelings, and fluent, exquisite lines, colors, subtle taste cross the picture plane ….. all of these are so familiar to Chinese people. The least words to describe is the best. The same Eastern cultural origin causes such lots of sympathetic response inside of Chinese views’ hearts to the works of Korean artists. Therefore, we believe: an intimacy is accompanying with our attention all the time; a moving feeling is leading us to give a gaze deeply to Korean artists.

The lineup of participants and exhibits of this year’s Shanghai Art Fair fully reflect the guiding principle “Internationalization and Refinement”. Considerable numbers of world-class masters’ works participating in this Fair. For example, Korea Gallery Association, though for the first time takes part in Shanghai Art Fair, prearrange nearly 400 square meters to show its works with great ambition. Many galleries, including over ten best galleries from Korea, three Japanese galleries, which constitutes an “irresistible Korean Group” shall show their artworks to audiences.

France EMMART Center, also for the first time participating in Shanghai Art Fair, brings two grand sculptures, Beau Temps Pourchassant La Tempete and Metamorphose, made by Fenosa, the famous sculptor of contemporary era of France. In addition, you will have opportunity to see such well known art masters, such as Dubuffet, Vieira da Silva, Masson and Bissiere, etc.. It is believed that there will be a much-told story of resettling of world famous works.

France Xin-Dong Cheng Gallery brings its well-known sculptor Jean-Pierre Renaud’s work—Red Base, after it successfully sold the sculpture of Thumb last year. The diameter and height are both over 2 meters. It is hoped that the Red Base, which is cove a much-told story red with festive colors and full of fortune, will be bought by Chinese collectors.

Modern Gallery Taiwan • China is paid great attention for its annual participation with world-class master pieces. It is no exception this time; they bring more than 20 sculptures of France famous impressionist Renoir and his companion Guino. Taiwan Modern Gallery takes up the best place of this exhibition, giving a theme show to Chinese collectors.

America Emmanuel Javogue Fine Arts Company, like a B52 huge bombing plane, flies to Shanghai Art Fair carrying with works of widely known Picasso - modern sculptor—Rodin - Impressionist—Degas - the first real sculptor of Cubism Lipchitz —and Futurist—Dufy. It is difficult to estimate how many collectors shall be allured by those world-class art works.

At the same time, the spectators shall have the chance to see new concept glass art works from Japan, works of natural conditions and social customs of America West Region from America Shonna Gallery, four—dimension visional space using the technique of electronics and changing light shadow from young artist of Sweden.

In addition, all domestic first-rank galleries bring many well-known works of art masters to Shanghai Art Fair, in which we are quite familiar with are Chinese art masters—Daqian Zhang - Baoshi Fu - Beihong Xu - Guanzhong Wu and Ying Zhu; Peiqiu Chen and Ming Han who have sold their works well in China these years; Shicong Fang, living now in France, whose works are collected by Prince Charles of Britain; and young and middle-aged artists—Changjiang Zhou - Xiaofu Yu - Mingjun Yue - Yan Mao - Jun Leng, etc. Shanghai Art Fair 2003 shall be the best one since its opening based on those expectative participants and the artworks.