Rodin masterpiece makes debut at city's art fair

Sep 2, 2010

Rodin masterpiece "The Burghers of Calais" is to make its first visit to China when it goes on display at the Shanghai Art Fair from September 8 to 12 at ShanghaiMart.

The bronze sculpture, 2.2 meters high and 2.66 meters long, is valued at 4 million euro (US$5 million), making it the most expensive piece of art to have featured at the fair.

"The fair will attract about 126 galleries from 14 countries and regions," Gu Zhihua, the fair director, said yesterday.

Art forms, ranging from canvas, sculptures, watercolors and videos to ceramics and installations, will provide a visual feast for visitors, Gu said. "This year, our theme is 'collecting art as a fashion mode,'" Gu added.

A team of experts will provide an appraisal service for visitors regarding antique ceramics, ancient books, traditional ink-wash paintings and jade on September 10 and 11.

After the art fair, directors and curators of museums from all over the world will gather in Shanghai for the 22nd International Council of Museums General Conference at the World Expo Center from November 7 to 12.

ICOM, first established in 1946, organizes a general conference every three years and the theme for this one is "Museums for Social Harmony."

Keynote speakers include former Mali president Alpha Oumar Konare, Nigerian-born American curator Okwui Enwezor and Chinese author Feng Jicai.

Nearly 1,800 curators, experts and scholars in relevant industries from more than 100 countries and regions will attend nearly 100 speeches, seminars and conferences during the six-day event.