West Bund Museum

Shanghai West Bund Museum 西岸美术馆

The West Bund has a shoreline of 11.4 km, covers an area of 9.4 km², and has a total land volume of 9.5 million km² for development. This land has additionally been identified as a high-quality CAZ (Central Activity Zone) that will perform the core functions of a global city through the completion of the “Shanghai 2035” master plan. As one of the origin sites for the national manufacturing industry in the 20th century, it took advantage of Expo 2010, Shanghai to start the city’s renovation and transform it from an industry-intensive area to a public open space. Guided by “planning-based, culture-oriented, eco-based and technological-innovation-driven” development principles, they have helped foster the advancement of the city’s cultural presence and attractiveness. In addition, Shanghai city has planned to build the West Bund into an iconic central attraction, comparable with the Paris Rive Gauche and London South Bank.
Centered upon the design of the Shanghai Corniche, West Bund offers a world-class urban waterfront public space with a landscape avenue. Following its development principle, 20+ cultural and art institutions have been gathered along the 8.4 km shoreline of the West Bund, such as the Long Museum, Yuz Museum, Start Museum, Tank Shanghai, and the emerging theatre cluster. Together, these cultural institutions form the largest art zone in Asia. West Bund has also planned major projects like the West Bund Media Port, West Bund Smart Valley, and West Bund Financial Centre, to set up a central business area with 3 major industrial pillars of cultural innovation, technological innovation, and creative financial industries.
The West Bund Museum is located on the open riverside public area of the Xuhui District, which is rated as a “Paradigmatic Habitat Environment in China”. It is a core venue of the “Museum Mile” in the West Bund. The museum was designed by pioneer of modernistic design, Sir David Chipperfield and his team. As an essential platform of public culture in the region and city, the West Bund Museum aims to create an open and cozy interdisciplinary cultural center, allowing the public to become a part of its cultural development through their interactions. Visitors will be able to indulge themselves into a diversified life of arts, and join hands with the West Bund Museum to create an expanded cultural landscape for the city.

Field Trip Information

MEDIART 202 Idea, Imagination and Creativity: Students were able to experience an in-depth exhibition visit as well as a viewing of the surrounding scenic waterfront. At this center of public cultural representation and interdisciplinary displays, students were exposed to the creative ideations of a multitude of innovative artists and industries. As an overall art hub for all of Asia, the West Bund Museum provided students with a variety of artistic perspectives to analyze and take inspiration from.