Take a load off at the Artsea Studio and Gallery. Its current exhibition of Chinese chairs isn't what you would expect. A group of 30 artists unleashed their imaginations.

Rows of small Chinese benches catch the eye. Strangely, they are not for tea time or a leisurely rest, but are designed to make a statement.

"Take a Seat" is an exhibition featuring more than 30 artistic chairs created by 32 Chinese artists. It's an unusual exhibition in that it doesn't include paintings or calligraphy -- just benches.

"This is a special and interesting show," says Dvir Bar Gal, owner of the Artsea Studio and Gallery, along Suzhou Creek, where the exhibition takes place. "Although I'm the curator of the exhibition, I was still unprepared to see these simple small chairs turned into unique artworks."

It's true. They are not normal stools as some are wrapped with "new clothes" including Chinese patterned fabric and a Coca Cola advert. One chair is crammed with colorful fake insects.

Gal's original idea, preserving a part of Chinese culture that is fading in the modern city, has turned into a crusade. No symbol better than a small wooden bench voices his idea. They invite people to be together, an important manifestation of Chinese culture hospitality.

"These old objects can remain the aesthetic part of our future creation instead of disappearing from our lives," Gal says. "`Take a seat' is a mixture of nostalgia and modernity. By breaking and deforming this traditional object, we hope to give the chair a new life."

For many local adults, these chairs represent sweet memories of childhood. A sunny afternoon would pass unwittingly in one of these small chairs, confined in a small world, but with thoughts and dreams of a bigger world and unfolding future.

It's a pity, however, that they are gradually retreating from our modern life. Most of the chairs look shabby and outdated and have been replaced with comfy, plush and luxurious sofas, wing chairs or chaise lounges.

While the cultural value behind the small wooden chairs is largely ignored by locals, Gal, an Israeli photographer, understands their particular hidden meanings.

"I am very curious about these chairs, so I began collecting them years ago in places like Laoximen and Yuyuan Garden," says Gal, who came to Shanghai three years ago.

While many Westerners are purchasing antique furniture from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, Gal's cultural relics are cheap and easy to carry. "Perhaps we are too familiar with old subjects from the past," says 40-something Ding Yi, one of the artists involved with the show. "I seldom thought of keeping them in my home. It was very innovative to use them as a medium to express new messages."

Ding painted a couple of dark wooden chairs in fluorescent red and green, an attempt to fuse modern language into the old object. Aside from the bright hues, he also drilled hooks into the chairs for greater visual impact.

"You think it's easier to create on chairs rather than on canvas?" asked Wan Ke, a female artist with a chair on display. "It's not. The subject constricts your thoughts at first."

But once the imagination is free from boundaries, results can be stunning.

"You Like Me," a piece by Shanghai artist Zhang Yong, grabs the eyes of most visitors. The 30-something artist didn't change the chair's look, choosing to place an erotic female miniature lying on a hollow of the chair's surface.

"I like this exhibition very much," says visitor Xie Ling.

"It's good to curate a show with the same subject but through different renditions."

Meanwhile, Zhang Zhongqi's video featuring a scene of long line ups has a bitter and sarcastic interpretation toward chairs. It happened earlier this year on Zhongji Road, a street built during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. The street will be renovated into a new commercial road and residents will be relocated. On the day of registration they lined up for hours.

"Chinese people believe that those who line up first always get better opportunities," Zhang explains. "Sometimes an empty seat represents a person that you can not jump."

Gal says once the exhibition ends, the chairs will be auctioned in a few months time.

"Our gallery's following exhibition theme is doors," he says. "I am convinced the scene will be as shocking as those appearing on the chairs." "Take a Seat" Time: 10 am-8 pm, through November 15 Address: 2/F, Bldg 9, 50 Moganshan Rd. Admission: Free Tel: 6227-8380

(eastday.com November 11, 2003)