From September 10th to 13th, ShContemporary 08 returning for the second year to the spectacular Shanghai Exhibition Center promises to create an intriguing dialogue between the Orient and Occident art scenes. Over 120 galleries including the best galleries from the East will be juxtaposed with the top Western galleries, plus 30 artists from Asia Pacific region will be presented in a unique curated section. The fair organizers have implemented various structural and conceptual changes, which guarantee ShContemporary being even stronger, more diverse and exciting than the previous edition. “Following the experience of last year we have decided to include the leading authorities of the regional art scene – all of them are academic educated experts on a high intellectual level. We will never again work with only one artistic director,” said Lorenzo Rudolf. A Strategic Board has been introduced which will consult the fair organizers on strategic and conceptual matters. This Strategic Board include:Pi Li (Universal Studios, Boers-Li Gallery, Bejing),Leng Lin (Bejing Commune, Bejing),Lu Jie (Long March Project, Bejiing),Tian Yuan (White Space, Bejing),Lorenz Helbling (ShangART, Shanghai),Arthur Solway (Arthur Solway/ James Cohan Gallery, Shanghai/ New York),Elaine Ng (Publisher/editor Art Asia Pacific Magazine, New York). Building on the successful response received for Best of Discovery in the past edition, the fair will give more importance and visibility to this curated section. The space and number of participating artists will increase from 20 to over 30. Also to offer more indepth professional research and a stronger artistic content to Best of Discovery, ShContemporary is co-operating with 10 specialized curators from the Asia Pacific region who will select artists from their specific area. This format guarantees a strong platform for the best, young and often unknown Asian artists to be presented to the global art audience for the first time. The 10 curators representing relevant artistic scenes of Asia Pacific regions include:Huang Du, an independent curator living in Bejing – mainland & Hong Kong, China.Yining Shen, from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Taipei –Taiwan, China.Rachel Kent, curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney - Australia and New Zealand..Sara Raza, curator and independent art critic based in London - Central Asia.Deeksha Nath, curator and independent art critic in New Delhi – India subcontinent.Refky Effendy, independent curator from Jakarta - Indonesia.Shinyoung Chung, curator at the Museum of Art in Seoul - Korea.Jack Persekian, independent curator living in Palestine - West Asia, Middle East.Sutee Kunavichayanot, artist, scholar, critic and curator in Bankok, Thailand.A further curator is expected from Japan. Lorenzo Rudolf has appointed Huang Du to co-ordinate the artistic projects of Best of Discovery. The works will be arranged as a museum like ,sales exhibition in a large open space format with no exhibitor wall separations. Once again, ArtAsiaPacific Magazine serves as the official media partner which strengthens ShContemporary’s exposure in the West and Asia Pacific region. The magazine is the most important publication encompassing the art and art scenes of the entire Asia Pacific region. The publisher and editor Elaine Ng supports the creative developments of the fair by serving on strategic board and advising on Best of Discovery. ArtAsiaPacific will also be co-operating in lecture series addressing the Asia Pacific art and art scenes, which will be held during the fair. In addition, the magazine and the fair management will develop new marketing and information platforms. ShContemporary is co-producted by Lorenzo Rudolf and Bolognafiere SpA ; organized in co-operation with the following Chinese partners: Shanghai International Cultural communication Association (SICCA), Shanghai Art Fair Organization Committee and Eastern Shanghai International Culture Film & Television Group.