New realism was originated in France in 1960 by artist Yves Klein and critic Pierre Restany. Sometimes the school is viewed as a branch of pop art because they share a lot in common: artists of both schools make use of ready-made items, using methods like installing and pasting.

These works, made up of compressed automobile parts, tins and cans, wrapped mannequins and portraits, worn posters and gas masks, carry the rebellious spirit of the roaring 1960s.

The curator of the exhibition, P.M. Nuridsany, explained the art of new realists using the orange in front of him. "Cezanne or Van Gogh would put the orange in front of the canvas and paint a work of art, but the new realists would put the orange itself in a frame and call it a work of art."

It reminds people of Dadaism's Marcel Duchamp, and his "fountain".

All the exhibits are on loan for six months. After exhibition in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, Nuridsany will try to move on to Hong Kong.

Strolling among these compressed metal shapes, colourful rags and poster collage, one can't help but wonder, is this art, or junk?

But stepping into the two rooms where oil paintings are shown, one can begin to feel the necessity of breaking from traditional art forms.

There are 189 pieces by local artists. The works are chosen from an academic and artistic point of view. They are well executed, showing the artists' careful designing and high skill, but regretfully lack excitement.

These oil paintings represent the general standard of oil painting in Shanghai and will be sent for further selection, before the lucky few are chosen for the national oil painting exhibition, to be held in Beijing this autumn.

New Realists Exhibition

January 28-February 28

Shanghai Oil Painting

January 29-February 19

Shanghai Art Museum

457 Nanjing Xilu

Tel: 6327-2829

(Shanghai Star January 31, 2003)