Springtime is more than a stroll in the parks

The smell of spring is getting stronger. March is almost here, and cherries, plum and other variety of flowers have started to bloom in Shanghai’s parks. Joan Zheng has prepared a list of activities for you to enjoy next month — from classy performances to unique exhibitions unearthing the world of fabric. 

Japanese artist Kusama brings her unique art to Shanghai

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is bringing her collection of works for a solo exhibition at Fosun Foundation next month.

The exhibition will end on June 9.

The exhibit will showcase around 40 works of Kusama, including her representative works about pumpkin and wave point. Besides, a large variety of immersive installations, specially designed for Fosun Foundation by Kusama, will be on display.

Born in Nagano-ken in 1929, Kusama showed promise from an early age. She began to exhibit her paintings, soft sculptures and installations after she came to the Us in 1957, and won a lot of admirers.

With a unique style combining pop art, minimalism, surrealism and other styles, Kusama is now regarded as an avant-garde artist.

Date: March 7-June 9

Address: Fosun Foundation, 600 Zhongshan Rd E2

The 20th century masters and their fabric art

An exhibition titled “artists Textiles: Picasso to Warhol” will be on at Modern art Museum shanghai from March 1.

Initiated by London’s Fashion and Textile Museum in 2014, the exhibition has toured Canada, the US and the Netherlands, and has won high praise from both audiences and art critics.

A crossover cooperation between fashion houses and art circles, the exhibits will take art aficionados back to the 20th century. They can review the complete art history of fabric design from that period. Audiences will get to admire creative works by several renowned artists, including Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall and Raoul Dufy.

Date: March 1-May 5

Address: Modern Art Museum Shanghai, 4777 Binjiang Ave

Jurowski to lead London Philharmonic Orchestra

The London philharmonic Orchestra will entertain local music fans at shanghai Oriental art Center from March 16 to 17.

The orchestra was established in 1932 and shot to prominence almost immediately around the world. Besides concerts, the orchestra has released original music albums and composed for films such as “The Lord of the Rings,” “Lawrence of Arabia” and ”Thor: The Dark World.”

Vladimir Jurowski, the orchestra’s conductor, is known for his outstanding musicianship and artistic innovation.

Cooperating with gifted violinist Julia Fischer, the orchestra will perform a series of classic music for shanghai fans such as Strauss’ “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry pranks,” Brahms’ “Symphony No. 2 in D Major,” and Mendelssohn’s“Violin Concerto in e Minor.”

Date: March 16-17

Address: Shanghai Oriental Art Center, 425 Dingxiang Rd

Choral performance by famous Argentine cantor

Argentine cantor Pablo Assante will lead an Italian opera and perform well-known choral pieces at a concert in shanghai Symphony Hall.

Assante, who was born in Quilmes, Argentina, is a gifted musician. He started to learn the piano at the age of 8 and graduated from Mozarteum University Salzburg in 2001.

He has cooperated with a group of well-known orchestras, including Carlo Felice Theater, and collaborated with a large number of conductors including Kurt Masur, Colin Davis and Fabio Luisi.

Date: March 12

Address: Shanghai Symphony Hall, 1380 Fuxing Rd M.

Mordvinov to perform classics at his Shanghai concert

Russian musician Mikhail Mordvinov will present a recital at shanghai Oriental art Center on March 8.

Mordvinov started to learn music at Russia’s Gnesin Academy of Music from the age of 6.

He won awards at several international music competitions and cooperated with Munich philharmonic.

For the shanghai concert, Mordvinov will perform, among others, Beethoven’s“Andante Favori Woo,” Schumann’s“Kreisleriana,” Chopin’s “4 Mazurkas” and Scriabin’s “5 preludes.”

Date: March 8

Address: Shanghai Oriental Art Center,425 Dingxiang Rd

Learning to make music with bricks and everything else around us

Children and their parents can look forward to a unique concert using instruments that are part of our daily life. It will be staged at shanghai Children’s art Theater from March 2 to 3.

Three talented Spanish musicians — Xavi Lozano, guillem aguilar and Marc Vila — will offer a unique and humorous concert with sweet melodies, blues, jazz and original songs played with several amazing “instruments” such as bricks, ladders, crutches, chairs, brooms, bicycles and fences.

This unique and creative concert will provide kids with an amazing music experience and encourage them to find the beauty of life through everyday things.

Date: March 2-3

Address: Shanghai Children’s Art Theater, 880 Miaojiang Rd

A challenging reflection on life and self

French clown musical “Art Life of a Violinist” will hit the stage at the Lyceum Theater next month, challenging audiences to reflect on life and self.

It tells the story of a renowned violinist Peter Hinssen. For him, how to move audiences is his mission. But when he found an audience was amazed by his performance at one of his concerts, everything changed. He began to doubt his performances and made mistakes on stage.

With the leading actor’s amazing body movements, it shows the intrapsychic conflict of Hinssen, and leads people to think deeply about their own daily work and life.

Date: March 17

Address: Lyceum Theater, 57 Maoming Rd S.