Art beat in September

Star animals

A large-scale circus show will be in the spotlight during this year's National Day holidays. The National Circus of Russia is all set to present three performances of The Dream Island, in which the show's stars are animals, including some 10 panthers, three grizzly bears, more horses and dogs, as well as a "princess" kangaroo that does ballroom dancing.

2:30 pm, Oct 3-4, 7:30 pm, Oct 3. Shanghai Grand Stage, 1111 Caoxi Beilu (North Road), Xuhui district, Shanghai. 021-5425-7575.

Drawing from daily life

Xu Zhe of Shanghai is presenting his latest series of small sculptures and video projects in an exhibition named Extended Play. Most of the artworks came from experiences in daily life, says Xu. "They carry my observation and way of perceiving an object. They are purely improvised, uncertain; there are no specific opinions or wishes that need to be explained."

10 am-6 pm, Aug 30-Oct 5, Am Art Space, 50B Fengxian Lu (Road), Jing'an district, Shanghai. 021-6384-2432.

Shanghai-based artist

Xu Zhe is presenting his latest series of small sculptures and video projects in the exhibition Extended Play. Most of these art works came from fragments of experience from daily life, says the Shanghai-based artist. “They carry my observation and way of perceiving an object. They are purely improvised, uncertain; there are no specifi c opinions or wishes that need to be explained.”

10 am-6 pm, until Oct 5, Am Art Space, 50B Fengxian Lu (Road), Jing’an district, 021- 6384- 2432

Life Hub@Jinqiao

It celebrates folk music in China from the past 40 years. An exhibition of the cassettes, vinyl albums, vintage posters and musicians autographs will run until October. During the show, musicians from both sides of the Taiwan Straits will give lectures, sharing their experiences in the music scene. Concerts from veteran singers and songwriters are also scheduled.

10 am-10 pm, until Oct 12, 1F Lobby, Life Hub@ Jinqiao, 3611 Zhangyang Lu (Road), Pudong, 021-5038-8378

Contemporary Photography

Fiftytwo artists are to feature in a show that has been jointly organized by Minsheng Museum of Modern Art and the Central Academy of Fine Art. Curator Wang Huangsheng wants to present a linear narrative of contemporary photography in China from 2009 to present. The show consists of three parts: one focused on experiments with photography as a medium, the other on artists’ perception of objects and daily life, and the third featuring photo journalism.

10 am-6 pm, Tue-Sun, Sept 1-Oct 15, Minsheng Art Museum Shanghai, Building F, 570 Huaihai Road West, 021-6282-8729

Vanishing Point

This exhibition has borrowed its title from Chinese artist Gong Xinru’s artwork “Highway”. A vanishing point in linear perspective means to draw parallel lines as not parallel but intersecting at a point which, in fact, can never be reached. This exhibition also features two Japanese artists Masahiro Masuda and Ken Hamaguchi. Masuda’s specialty is staggering and overlapping multiple movie screens. Hamaguchi is famous for showing blonde girls in bondage with Buddhist sutra written over the surface in black ink.

10 am-6 pm, until Oct 19, Shun Art Space, Rm 103, Building 3, 50 Moganshan Road, Shanghai, 021- 5252-7198