Architect’s impression of Ota Fine Arts Shanghai

Following Tokyo and Singapore, Ota Fine Arts will open a new gallery space in Shanghai, West Bund, on the 8th of November 2017. West Bund is a cluster of 40 local and international galleries, prominent museums and institutions, including a branch of Pearl Lam Galleries which is also based in Singapore.

In recent years, Ota Fine Arts has held solo and group exhibitions with artists from Japan, China, Singapore, Korea, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, etc. Through these exhibitions, the gallery was able to showcase varied works of art from within Asia and present their diverse cultural histories. Ota Fine Arts Shanghai also aims to be a rigorous incubator that fosters the exploration of ideas beyond the traditional and contemporary, fine arts and craft, the old and new.

Nobuaki Takekawa, Tax Haven, 2016, Woodblock print on paper, 130 x 98 cm, Edition of 3

For its inaugural exhibition, Ota Fine Arts Shanghai will feature a solo presentation by Japanese artist, Nobuaki Takekawa, titled “Cat Olympics: in memory of Torajiro.”
Cat Olympics: in memory of Torajiro is inspired by the 2020 Olympics to be hosted by Tokyo, Japan. On a more personal level, the exhibition is in memory of the artist’s beloved cat, Torajiro, who died a year ago in a traffic incident.

The exhibition marks Takekawa’s first solo presentation in China and will feature several large installations including an opening ceremony stadium, a football field, an aquatic center and a gymnasium. Numerous ceramic cats will populate the installations, with each individual cat engaged in a sporting activity. Additionally, Takekawa will present ten of his signature woodblock prints and a series of cat sculptures.

By creating a celebratory atmosphere that mimics the World Olympics, Takekawa allows his viewers to reflect on the complex societal issues that are prevalent in the world. Consequentially, this may cause one to think further about the overall effect of the Olympics on mankind.

Opening reception: Wednesday, 8 November 2017, 1 – 6 pm
Venue: Ota Fine Arts Shanghai, West Bund, Building 3, 2555 Longteng Avenue, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China 200232