Hive Becoming | Shanghai

Hive Center for Contemporary Art was founded in Beijing in 2013 by director Xia Jifeng. The name ‘Hive’ is a metaphor for the existence of human aggregation and the multiplicity of their minds, particularly corresponding to the current state of social structure and contemporary art. In addition to Hive Shanghai and Hive Becoming spaces, the head office, Hive Beijing, is located in China’s famous 798 Art Zone, converted from an old industrial plant of over 4,000 square metres. Hive Beijing has five formal galleries and an entrance hall, and presents a dozen exhibitions each year.

Hive Center for Contemporary Art is committed to contributing to the local cultivation and construction of contemporary Chinese art while promoting and sharing contemporary Chinese art and introducing outstanding global artists and art projects.

Hive Becoming, a programme with ten years of history, has landed for the first time with a dedicated space in heritage architecture at 211 Beijing East Road. The space at the historic building measures almost 300 square metres and is located less than 100 metres from Hive Shanghai in the First Trust Co. Building.

Hive Center for Contemporary Art’s initiative to support young artists, Hive Becoming Program, is devoted to discovering, nurturing and collaborating with young artists from around the world. To date, it has realised the debut solo exhibitions of more than a dozen artists, followed by accompanying publications, writings and other research work. Hive Becoming Program has presented the first solo exhibitions of many prominent artists of the post-80s and 90s generation, such as Ji Xin, Zhang Ji, Pu Yingwei, Tan Yongqin, Fang Yuan, Li Weiyi, Guan Yu, Fei Yining, Gong Chenyu, Yu Linhan, Joey Xia, and Lu Yu.