Anomaly OPEN Space presents ‘Shanghai Birds’ exhibition led by illustrator Momoshou
Anomaly Shanghai presents “Shanghai Birds” at the Anomaly OPEN Space, from 19 May through 12 July 2023. Led by illustrator Momoshou, the exhibition is a playful and visually gratifying “popup book” telling you a thing or two about our avian friends in a habitat known as Shanghai.
Anomaly OPEN is a cultural platform established by Anomaly Shanghai, that hosts talks, events and exhibitions in support of the broader creative community. Past notable exhibitions in the space have included typography designer Ying Yonghui, artist Nathan Zhou, photographer Rich Shuie, and a collaboration with Magazine B to create an immersive Reading Room experience.
With over 500 recorded species, exceeding a third of China’s overall record, Shanghai is home to a rich variety of birds and cultivates a vibrant community of birders. Started in the early 2000s, the birding movement in Shanghai emerged from the constant tension between rapid urbanisation and individuals eagerness to reconnect with the natural world. In recent years, it has become an increasingly popular pastime among young urbanites in particular, as it offers a wholesome package of hiking, camping, the pleasure of discovery, and socialising with other like-minded people.
Inspired by this phenomenon, Momoshou, a fervent birder-in-the-making herself, brings the city’s background chirpers to center stage, transforming them into a series of highly stylised graphics. The viewers will learn to identify the ten most common birds in the Yangtze River Delta—and in your neighborhood gardens—through a light-box series, as well as tagging along the path to becoming a pro birder through a cartoon collage. The show also challenges the audience to find Wally birdies in Momo’s signature illustration, rendered as a large mural complimented by the sound of a variety of chirping played from recordings, celebrating nature and Shanghai’s unique avifauna. Additionally, a photo opportunity can be taken with the elegant cranes standing in the middle of the gallery.
Momoshou said: “My passion for plants used to draw my attention to the ground. So when I finally had the chance to clearly see the face of a bird through binoculars on a birding trip, I felt my whole world was turned upwards to the sky. Ever since then, birds occupy a special corner and enable a new dimension in my mind.”
Richard Summers, Anomaly Shanghai’s Chief Strategy Officer & Partner, remarked “Momoshou is one of the most prolific designers of her generation and we are thrilled to collaborate with her once again to present these beautiful and inspiring works to a broader audience.”
The show is further complemented by Forest City Studio, an organization that focuses on urban biodiversity preservation and restoration. Forest City Studio provides the display with hardcore knowledge, including introductions of the featured species, and a collection of ornithology specimens. During the exhibition, they will team up with Anomaly Shanghai to organize a series of workshops to reveal nature’s wonders in Shanghai’s greens.
“Shanghai Birds” is a small oasis nested by the urban flow. As our world is healing and people are reconnecting to the outdoors, the show attempts to inspire new appreciations in our most familiar surroundings and reminds us to always be as free as a bird.
Details
Exhibition Duration: May 19 to July 12, 2023
Address: Anomaly OPEN Space, 205 South Wulumuqi Road, Xuhui, Shanghai
Open daily from 11:00 to 19:00
For information about events, click here.
