The former site of the century-old Star Perfumery Factory on North Bund in Hongkou has been revitalized into a vibrant art exhibition space.
Artist Huang Wei's solo exhibition "Tempering" debuted at the site on April 7, marking a new chapter in the building's history.
The exhibition, hosted by the Shanghai Huamao Center, showcases 18 pieces of Huang and is open to the public for free, exemplifying the successful adaptive reuse of historical architecture for urban renewal.
The center, a significant project initiated in December last year, encompasses about 200,000 square meters. It features a 180-meter tall international headquarters office building, several open landscaped plazas, and 30 buildings with historic architectural features, including the historical site of the "Star Perfumery Factory."
Founded in 1907, the original Shanghai Chinese and Western Pharmacy, managed by pharmacist Zhou Bangjun, created a new type of Florida water based on the "Chinese Pharmacopoeia."
Around 1929, Zhou’s eldest daughter, Zhou Wenji, took over and started the "Star Perfumery and Soap Factory" on this site. "Star Florida Water" became its flagship product, once hailed as the "Chanel of the East" and a significant part of the city's cultural memory.
"We approached the renovation of this historic building with a sense of responsibility to the city, society, and history," said a representative from Shanghai Huamao Center.
The renovation included reinforcing cracked parts with flat steel hoops and restoring brickwork to preserve its original state while enabling it to serve new urban functions.
Now rejuvenated, the factory not only retains its historical charm but has also seamlessly integrated into the modern commercial backdrop. The ground floor of the original factory building outlines future commercial plans for the site, while the second floor has been transformed into an art exhibition space.
The exhibition, currently housed on the second floor, is a profound integration of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy with the unique "dotting" techniques of Thangka learned during Huang Wei's three-year study in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region.
The displayed works are products of countless dots and brush strokes, some taking up to a year to complete, embodying both tumult and tranquility.
The exhibition is Huang Wei's most comprehensive showcase in recent years, following solo exhibitions in Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong.
The deep blue theme of the exhibition resonates with the bustling Huangpu River, symbolizing the artist's response to the historical district's ongoing development.
The exhibition will run until May 21, with free admission available to the public by appointment.