SHANGHAI.- Hyper Design 6th Shanghai Biennale 2006 just opened at the Shanghai Art Museum and will on view through November 5. Today, we live in an era that design dominates in our society, life and art. Design is often related with functional practice. Under the theme of design, it aims to liberate the simple opposing relationship between art and function. Through the re-pondering of art and design, design and industry, life and production, it tries to resume the liaison between art and ordinary life practice to initiate its vitality and energy.

Design, as the closest approach of creation in our ordinary daily life, leads us towards the pondering of aesthetics of life, technology and society. Design is continuously surpassing itself. “Hyper Design” is not a result originated from this era, but also actively drives our era. It reflects a common aesthetic target in our era. The artists hope to explore that “design as materials” to create the conceptual art pieces. Here, design is not only treated as a technology mode, but also as a functional object. Most important of all, it links the intention of aesthetics that includes artistic value and social idealism. Design not only creates a product, but also points towards a series of life-styles, social idealism and history as well. Thus, design moves towards “Hyper Design.”

Based on the experience in operating the past Biennales, the 2006 Shanghai Biennial will continue its local experience to face the global situation and cultural attitudes. It insists on constructing different cultural imaginations. Under the theme of “Hyper Design”, as a very fresh element in visual culture and consummation industry, the Biennial explores the complicated, overlapping social liaison and cultural meanings hidden behind the phenomenon of “Design”. It reveals and ponders the meaning of design in three layers, ranging from aesthetic, life-style to social history in order to broaden a humanistic vision and promotes the creative culture.

Framework:
Hyper Design is divided into three sections: design and imagination, ordinary life practice, future and history.

1.Design and Imagination: Design is usually considered as functional and practical. But sometimes function is often considered to confine imagination. But, the imagination in design is developed through its function. The confining in imagination and conditional freedom are quite important to the reconstruction of the commonness and meanings in contemporary art. This section will display to the public how the contemporary artists use their fresh angles to reconstruct design objects for re-design.

2.Ordinary life practice: People are accustomed to separate art with ordinary life practice and treat art as something particular outside their life. But in fact, ordinary life not only provides a solid base for artistic imagination, but also the stage and battlefield for contemporary art. The design of life is artistic ordinary life practice. It echoes with the intention of design itself and inherits the origin of art. This section initiates the linking between art and ordinary life objects. It builds up an aesthetic idealism of social life through the daily practice by the artists.

3.Future and History: Future is filled with all kinds of possibilities. But the possibility of future is, in fact, the mirror of history and society. It not only reflects today's reality, but also a construction of the history of tomorrow. This section combines the experimental concepts in contemporary art with the historic Utopian imagination through the review and re-ponder of the future history in a future vision.

Spotlights: A theme that filled with the traits of our era, popularity and culture. It promotes the urban civilization and fixed the theme of “Hyper Design”.

The most young and pioneering international curatorial team. The Biennial invites six famous curators both home and abroad to form the curatorial team, including Zhang Qing, Huang Du, Shu-Min Lin, Wonil Rhee, Gianfranco Maraniello, Jonathan Watkins, Xiao Xiaolan (assistant curator). Zhang Qing (artistic director).

Further extending to the city as the exhibition mode. From 5, September to 5, November 2006, the Biennial will be held at the Shanghai Art Museum. During the same period, the Biennale will coordinate with other institutions to develop a series of satellite venues. Under the Biennial theme, a series of events in regard with the Biennale will be conducted to strengthen the Biennale's social influence. It will become a visual and creative feast in building up the city's image.