ABOUT
stage候台BACK Gallery and Eastlink Gallery are pleased to announce that the two galleries have merged operations, working out of the Eastlink space in M50 (50 Morganshan Road) Shanghai in June 2011. Eastlink is one of China's earliest contemporary art galleries, having worked with the majority of China's now well known avant guarde, from Huang Yan to He Yunchang. The space will now have alternate shows, whereby Eastlink will focus on managing its extensive archive of historic works and stage候台BACK will continue its program of cutting edge contemporary exhibitions by new international and Chinese artists. stage候台BACK, founded in 2008 by German artist Susanne Junker, was formerly based in the 696 Weihai Road studio complex. After the eviction of 696 Weihai Road by Chinese authorities in May 2011, stage候台BACK has now moved into this new collaboration with Eastlink.
"stage候台BACK is a young, ground breaking operation, heavily involved in international projects. I believe this fits well with Eastlink's history of working with China's early avant guarde. This new dynamic will work perfectly," Li Liang, owner of Eastlink said. Eastlink has been a major fixture in China's avant guarde scene, hosting the Ai Weiwei curated 'Fuck Off' show in 2000, among its many other achievements.
"The Eastlink archive is essentially a wide and diverse catalogue of China's contemporary art history. We will now spearhead a showcase of the new, dynamic international art scene in China, from this space. Times have changed, so we want to represent that. For international and new Chinese artists, to show in such a historic space, it is a great opportunity," Susanne Junker, of stage候台BACK said.
The programm will concentrate on cultural and intellectual exchange between the East and the West. Apart from the importance of education, discoveries of artists that show intriguing plates and disturbing displays to create strong reactions is in the main focus. stage候台BACK's link to an international dialog is obvious and it endeavors to add to the diversity of the relatively homogenous art scene in China today.
