This is the first project launched by MAM & UP-ON. Its core mission is to systematically organize and present key moments and valuable archival materials in the history of performance art with an objective and rigorous approach. Through in-depth research and scholarly investigation, the project aims to uncover overlooked threads of practice and historical turning points, thereby producing outcomes of academic value.
On June 17, 2026, the MAM & UP-ON Live Art Documentation Center was established in Shanghai, and the inaugural event, “Simple Art: Uncovering the Past,” kicked off. Fortune smiled upon us—the day was bright and sunny, a stark contrast to the persistent rain leading up to the exhibition. After the event, the plum rain season began, and the rain fell once again as expected. Still recovering from a hangover, I took an evening stroll to MAM & UP-ON, where I was delighted by the beautiful space, standing as still as crystal on the banks of the Huangpu River. I noticed passersby viewing the exhibition through the glass, and I thought to myself that the gallery lights could be set to turn on automatically from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Exterior View of the MAM & UP-ON Live Art Documentation Center
Shanghai is a city steeped in history—China’s most modernist metropolis—yet I’ve never considered living or working there. However, I once defined four cities in my own terms: my hometown of Xi’an is my “energy field”; my second home, Chengdu, is my “practice ground”; Beijing, where I spent my youth, is my “battlefield”; and Shanghai is the “market” I ignored while focusing on my artistic creation. Five years ago, the UP-ON Performance Art Archive was established. As its director, my perspective has shifted: Chengdu is undoubtedly the best choice for our headquarters, while Shanghai is the land of opportunity that will fill UP-ON’s future with possibilities.
Everything depends on serendipity; though we make plans, success is in the hands of heaven. On November 1, 2025, when He Tianmeng went to Shanghai, I mentioned at Tianfu Airport my intention to establish a branch of UP-ON in Shanghai. The necessity goes without saying, but my confidence in making it happen stemmed from my trust in and understanding of Brother Zhang Xi’s character and professional standing. When we met in Shanghai and discussed this idea, we hit it off immediately. Brother Zhang Xi asked how much space we’d need. I said 4 square meters would be enough—just a place to get started. The result far exceeded our expectations: the current MAM & UP-ON space totals 40 square meters—a 20-square-meter showroom with a stunning view, plus a 20-square-meter reference library and storage room. It’s perfect.
Exterior View of the MAM & UP-ON Live Art Documentation Center
The first project planned by MAM & UP-ON is the “Unearthing the Past” documentary exhibition and exchange series, which will feature four installments annually, updated quarterly. Although the Art Warehouse Museum provides support for venue and day-to-day management costs, funding for the project’s operations must be raised separately. UP-ON Archives, which has grown by drawing on the support of many, continues its tradition of embracing the blessings of all. We are fortunate that “Pusu” recognizes the value of the “Uncovering the Past” project and has agreed to serve as its annual title sponsor, joining us in this endeavor.
Signed Poster for *A Brief History of Shanghai Avant-Garde Art in the 1980s*
The first event for *Pusu: Uncovering the Past* will be *A Brief History of Shanghai Avant-Garde Art in the 1980s*. Friends joked that UP-ON was “paying its respects” upon arriving in Shanghai—and there is certainly some truth to that. Of course, our decision was primarily based on rational, academic judgment and choice. Through this event, we aim to revisit the autonomous artistic actions that spontaneously emerged on the streets, in attics, darkrooms, and cultural centers across Shanghai during the 1980s, paying homage to the early explorations of Shanghai’s contemporary art scene. Those spontaneous, grassroots, and electrifying moments form the precious folk roots of China’s contemporary art history and constitute an indispensable Shanghai chapter in the history of Chinese modern and contemporary art. From a certain perspective, Shanghai’s Abstract Expressionism even served as a crucial source for the development of Chinese modern and contemporary art following the Reform and Opening-Up.
Remarks by Teacher Zhang Xi at the Opening Ceremony
Remarks by Ms. Tian Meng at the Opening Ceremony
Based on our experience, the scale of the opening event is not entirely commensurate with the depth and richness of the content. This is a practical choice dictated by constraints such as manpower, resources, and regulatory approval processes, and it also reflects our approach and philosophy. Last year, I visited a documentary exhibition on “feminism” at the Busan Museum of Contemporary Art in South Korea, and its scale and curatorial approach were quite inspiring to me. Archival exhibitions focus on providing valuable content and information, as well as a quiet environment for viewing; the images need not be too large, the videos need not be flashy, and they should avoid creating a sense of visual overwhelm.
With the completion of the MAM & UP-ON Reading Area, and as the UP-ON Archive’s “Shangcheng·Research Lab” continues its work on document cataloging, research, and self-publishing, our guiding principle is to pursue value for money at the academic level. This approach also reflects the lessons learned from the “Exhibition on the Study of Chinese Performance Art Documentation from the 1970s and 1980s,” a project the UP-ON Archive has been advancing over the past two years: simplifying the complex, focusing on the essentials, keeping the scale small, and maintaining a high level of professionalism.
At this moment on the Huangpu River, with misty rain shrouding the scene and the city lights just beginning to glow, a cargo ship glides slowly yet steadily past us, about to set sail. As MAM & UP-ON takes its first steps and embarks on new endeavors, the ongoing support and constructive feedback from our fellow travelers are indispensable. Bai Juyi once wrote, “Ten thousand li across Qingcao Lake, a lone figure walking through the yellow plum rain”—a sense of solitude and distant melancholy that is deeply moving. Here and now, let us adapt those lines to fit the occasion: “Ten thousand li along the Huangpu River, a crowd walking through the yellow plum rain.”
Opening: 3:00 PM, June 17, 2026 (Wed.)
Duration: June 17 – September 11, 2026
Address: 4777 Binjiang Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
Advisors (listed by pinyin): Liu Huatong, Tian Meng, Zhu Qi
Coordinators: Ding Lei, Xu Fei, Lüzi, Peng Zaoyi, Shao Ye, Zhang Yi, Zhou Bin
Organizer: UP-ON Performance Art Archive
Organizers: MAM & UP-ON Live Art Documentation Center Title Sponsor: PUSHU
Special Support: DONGLAI ART
Acknowledgments: Cang Xin, Ding Yi, Feng Lianghong, Li Shan, Ni Weihua, Tang Guangming, Xue Song, Yang Hui, Yu Yu, Zhao Chuan, Zhu Qi Poster and Exhibition Design: Ding Lei
Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00 (last admission at 17:30); Closed on Mondays (schedule for public holidays subject to announcement)
Address: 1st Floor, Art Warehouse Museum, 4777 Binjiang Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
Project Title Sponsorship
Since its founding in 2015, Pusu has been guided by the philosophy of “Stripping Away the Ornate to Reveal the Essence; Mastering the Art of Composure,” steadfastly blending art and design. We advocate for bringing art into everyday life, weaving it into every detail and expression of our brand to provide contemporary urbanites—regardless of age or background—with a comfortable, minimalist, and high-quality lifestyle experience. We are currently the men’s apparel brand in China that engages most actively and closely with contemporary art.
