Tianzi Square
Over the years, out of widespread social and cultural concern to salvage urban assets of Shanghai, especially from those older establishment before being vaporized into thin air by those ruthless wrecking balls, there are several of these creative districts proposed and renovated, and many have started operation ever since. Most of these products of creative industry are taking off in their morbid manner for there are more empty spaces for lease than the expected or cultivated appealing ambience. Moganshan is one that fares well and Tianzi Square seems to express its inherent potentials in positive direction.
A former factory district immediately next to the Suzhou Creek, Moganshan is predominantly an artist colony with countable number of current households defending their last strongholds. Across the street of the artist colony, there is already a well established residential neighborhood in place while a gigantic furniture warehouse is not too far away. The arts subject activities are up and running. Successively frequent invitation to open reception of art shows is a common email reminder. Moganshan fares very well albeit the occupying artists are already complaining about the rising value of rental value per square footage. Moganshan is a genuine artist colony already made.
Tianzi Square is another one in the making but mainly catering for another kind of population. This has to do with its setting. It is located within an urbanized neighborhood. There is large number of current households living within the districts. Some for rental on lower floor if not upper level retained or remain residential in use, large or small spaces are being leased out. Mixing with the curious camera aiming visitors, the residents move on around with their daily business, and as a part of this particular colony. Majority of the merchandizing is cottage industry related with plentiful of restaurants now in their full swing. Partly, it is attempting to live up to its artist colony but hardly as genuine and ubiquitous as that of Moganshan; perhaps, it is another form of business investment or operation. At this Tianzi Square, there are more foreigners who are actually making full use of the outdoor open spaces around for their gathering and dining purposes, fittingly a very common social behavior from continental European and American context.
It is a fact of life that art culture takes time to breed and culture in general takes longer time to precipitate. To be cultural entities of an urban area, both Moganshan and Tianzi Square need some time to take off as they have had wished to be.
Jeremy
Shanghai upon the Sea
January 03, 2009
Over the years, out of widespread social and cultural concern to salvage urban assets of Shanghai, especially from those older establishment before being vaporized into thin air by those ruthless wrecking balls, there are several of these creative districts proposed and renovated, and many have started operation ever since. Most of these products of creative industry are taking off in their morbid manner for there are more empty spaces for lease than the expected or cultivated appealing ambience. Moganshan is one that fares well and Tianzi Square seems to express its inherent potentials in positive direction.
A former factory district immediately next to the Suzhou Creek, Moganshan is predominantly an artist colony with countable number of current households defending their last strongholds. Across the street of the artist colony, there is already a well established residential neighborhood in place while a gigantic furniture warehouse is not too far away. The arts subject activities are up and running. Successively frequent invitation to open reception of art shows is a common email reminder. Moganshan fares very well albeit the occupying artists are already complaining about the rising value of rental value per square footage. Moganshan is a genuine artist colony already made.
Tianzi Square is another one in the making but mainly catering for another kind of population. This has to do with its setting. It is located within an urbanized neighborhood. There is large number of current households living within the districts. Some for rental on lower floor if not upper level retained or remain residential in use, large or small spaces are being leased out. Mixing with the curious camera aiming visitors, the residents move on around with their daily business, and as a part of this particular colony. Majority of the merchandizing is cottage industry related with plentiful of restaurants now in their full swing. Partly, it is attempting to live up to its artist colony but hardly as genuine and ubiquitous as that of Moganshan; perhaps, it is another form of business investment or operation. At this Tianzi Square, there are more foreigners who are actually making full use of the outdoor open spaces around for their gathering and dining purposes, fittingly a very common social behavior from continental European and American context.
It is a fact of life that art culture takes time to breed and culture in general takes longer time to precipitate. To be cultural entities of an urban area, both Moganshan and Tianzi Square need some time to take off as they have had wished to be.
Jeremy
Shanghai upon the Sea
January 03, 2009
