《City Walk, Art Walk》Documentary
© APS

As the warm sun of late spring and early summer intensifies, Shanghai's Yangpu Waterfront is about to transform into an ocean of art. The highly anticipated public art event " City Walk, Art Walk: A Retrospective of Public Artworks in Shanghai's Yangpu Waterfront." was grandly opened.

From the densely packed chimneys and bustling riverside docks to the open and shared innovative urban hotbed with historical reverence, Yangpu Waterfront bears the century-old industrial civilization of Shanghai. Art and technology are now breathing life into its industrial heritage and engaging in urban renewal. Factories transform into stages, warehouses into galleries, and public artworks shimmer against the river scenery, as various cultural and artistic activities abound— Industrial relics turn into cultural landmarks, and the rust texture of the industrial era blends into the elegance of modern urban life. Yangpu Waterfront has always upheld the important concept of a “people's city,” using artistic innovation to script a new urban life panorama and embarking on a transformation from industrial rust to a lively elegance.

The "2019 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season" allowed the public to step into public spaces and experience public art and became a new artistic landmark with a highly anticipated artistic event. Twenty permanent installations along the 5.5-kilometer waterfront public space in the southern section of Yangpu Waterfront by renowned artists from around the world such as Esther Stocker from Italy, Oscar Oiwa from Brazil, Liu Jianhua, Xu Zhen, and Song Dong from China, Richard Wilson from the UK, Felice Varini from Switzerland, Pascale Marthine Tayou from Cameroon, José de Guimarães from Portugal, and Yusuki Asai, Yoshiyuki Kawazoe, Keisuke Takahashi, and Mé from Japan, inject continuous artistic vitality into the city.

Fast forward to May 2024, Yangpu Waterfront continues to shine. Located on the waterfront of Minghua Sugar Factory Green Space, the 21st newly commissioned public artwork, the sculpture "Light Tower" by artist Mr. Ding Yi, is grandly unveiled, becoming a new landmark shining along Yangpu Waterfront, awaiting people to meet again in this vibrant city and embark on beautiful urban art walks—City Walk, Art Walk.

City Walk is a new way of life tourism originating from the UK, mainly referring to guided walking routes focusing on urban history and artistic culture. In China, the meaning of this term is broader, mainly referring to strolling in the city and immersing themselves in the atmosphere of the city.

“City Walk, Art Walk: A Retrospective of Public Artworks in Shanghai's Yangpu Waterfront" took the audience through time, reviewing important public art pieces over the years in Yangpu Waterfront. It demonstrated how Yangpu Waterfront told its story through culture and art, enhanced regional cohesion, and highlighted Yangpu District's relentless efforts and achievements in promoting urban cultural construction.

As a rising cultural landmark in Shanghai, Yangpu Waterfront has been committed to promoting the development of public art. By hosting various art events, it provides citizens with a rich cultural experience and deeply integrates art into citizens' lives. This series of public art events not only aims to enrich citizens' cultural lives and enhance the cultural taste of Yangpu Waterfront but also aids in Shanghai's journey towards becoming an international cultural metropolis.