Following the successful execution of Fold I: Unifying Art + Design and Fold II: Urban Studies, Art + Shanghai Gallery expands its exhibition scope with Fold III: USELESS-upcycling in Art + Design. Exploring the parameters of collaborative innovation and good design, showcasing talented artists, photographers and designers.

Good design is not about color, style or trends - but thoughtfully considering the user, experience, social context and impact of an object on the surrounding environment. Our current way of living is to perpetuate civilization by substituting depleted resources with new ones. This system will sustain until we use our last resource and then what will be left? If there is no sustainable level of civilization, so how will we continue without destroying our surrounding habitat?

Regulating waste incentives and recycling has reduced the amount of pollutants to the environment, but their benefits are almost always exceeded by increased consumption in both developed and new economies. Upcycling has generated considerable interest among environmentalists and DIY enthusiasts who make use of existing materials by converting them into value-added products.

Focusing on Shanghai-based artists and designers, Gu Yeli, Jonas Merian, Nial O'Connor and Nicole Teng, who use upcycling principles as the foundation of their work, Fold III: USELESS asks how to encourage upcycling and it's ecological incentives when an economy develops and citizens have sufficient disposable income to buy new products.

This year in collaboration with the designers we highlight special photography projects by Nina Chen, Koo Bohnchang and Patrick Wack. With individual and diverse approaches, each photographer explores the interrelationship of sub-environments and people. In turn their images illustrate the exhibition theme, putting the role of our designers and their concern with conservationism into perspective.  

Fold is an annual project that aims to promote crossover by inviting artists, designers and architects to collectively design works produced and exhibited in a gallery. The exhibition explores the intricacies of art and design as a partnership on every level, from the initial sharing of ideas to negotiating changes and making decisions about possible outcomes. It is as much to showcase the creative outcome of two or more disciplines, as it is to explore the fundamentals of collaboration. Drawing on the expertise, ideas and experience of two genres aims to improve the creative potential for more innovative art and design.