You can come to this museum in a swimsuit

Kenny Scharf, a New York street art legend, is presenting his work in China for the first time. The Emotional exhibition at MAM Shanghai is not only a survey of five decades of his art, but also a unique installation, Beach Club, where art meets sand, palm trees and Venice Beach nostalgia.

Anyone with even a passing interest in street art should be familiar with Kenny Scharf . The artist co-created modern street art with such greats as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring .

In Scharf's work, bright colors and references to pop culture are important: alongside his original, anthropomorphic creatures, there are also cartoon characters from The Flintstones and The Jetsons . The artist, who describes his style as pop surrealism , does not limit himself to one type of art. His works include paintings , sculptures , installations , murals , and even fashion elements .

Kenny Scharf, Block Heads, 2016 / photo: MAM Shanghai press materials

From June 29 to October 8, the Shanghai Museum of Modern Art invites you to Emotional , an exhibition entirely composed of works by Kenny Scharf . The exhibition will feature more than 120 multidisciplinary works spread over three floors, representing five decades of the artist’s work. The centerpiece of the exhibition will be the immersive installation Beach Club , which transforms an entire floor of the museum into a beach adventure.

The installation captures the sunny, carefree atmosphere of Venice Beach : fine sand, palm trees, beach huts and retro souvenir stalls. The centerpiece of the Beach Club is a reinterpretation of Miami Beach's famous pink lifeguard tower . It is accompanied by six new sculptures, as well as loungers, a paddleball area, surfboards, inflatables and skateboards.

Emotional exhibition by Kenny Scharf / photo: MAM Shanghai press materials

Guests are encouraged to walk barefoot in the sand, or even come to the exhibition in beachwear , to fully immerse themselves in the escapist atmosphere. To further enhance the beach party atmosphere, the museum plans parties with selected DJs every weekend.

In addition to the intriguing installation, the exhibition includes paintings , sculptures and other works by the artist grouped, as the name suggests… according to emotions : anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness and delight.

- Kenny Scharf is a giant whose importance in art cannot be overestimated. He is one of the most distinctive contemporary artists, who debuted alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring . The exhibition, thanks to the installation Beach Club , becomes a transformative experience, bringing Scharf's energetic pop art fantasy to the heart of Shanghai - assures the curator of the exhibition, Shai Baitel .

I don't know about you, but I'd love to go to a street art beach like that, surrounded by amazing art and good music . Come to Poland!