While in Europe and the United States, philanthropists, corporations and governments have long ensured -- through legislation, civic responsibility and aesthetic sensibilities -- the importance of investing in public art -- be it a mural in an office building's lobby or a sculpture in a train station.

Property developers, too, acting of their own accord and sometimes compelled by statute, have placed sculptures and other artworks on their grounds. In doing so, they have employed artists and beautified what might otherwise have been a soulless structure.

This concept is now catching on in Shanghai. And while there are no laws requiring artistic embellishment to private or public residential complexes, a number of property developers have purchased expensive works of art to add a touch of class -- and lure some class-conscious buyers -- to their projects.

Shanghai Zendai Century (Group) Co. Ltd., for example, purchased French sculptor Cesar Baldaccini's "Thumb" for 2.6 million yuan (US$314,300) last November at the Shanghai Art Fair. Though one could debate the artistic merits of this particular work (thumb's up or thumb's down), it nonetheless represents a willingness on the part of corporations to allocate funds for public art.

Two years prior to the "Thumb" purchase, Shanghai Lian Yang Group, exhibiting an admirable if not very original appreciation of art's place in the public arena, plunked down US$1 million for a copy -- a copy! -- of Rodin's "Thinker." The sculpture now graces an area called "Rodin's Square" in Lian Yang's residential complex in Pudong.

Local sculptors could be forgiven for being enraged by both purchases. It's easy to imagine any number of them agreeing to create an original work for a fraction of the prices paid for the knock-off Rodin and Baldaccini's dubious digit.

The opening of private "art museums" in Shanghai is a relatively new phenomenon, arriving at a time when the demand for public art is virtually non-existent.

Last summer, the Peninsular Art Center, a two-floor, 10,000-square-meter museum/gallery, attracted a good deal of public attention. And last month, Lian Yang -- the company that bought the copy of Rodin's signature work -- announced the opening of its Architecture Art Museum.

Zendai is also planning its own "museum" within one or two years.

It should be noted that all of these museums -- they're actually galleries -- are located in or near residential complexes owned by their respective companies.

"In my view, the trend of property developers opening museums in their residential complexes is positive," says Chen Danqing, an oil painter and art critic who spent years in the United States. "It's very common in the West. In the U.S. and Europe, for example, governments often require property developers to invest a portion of their budget in art."

The reason for this instance, say art insiders, is twofold: It serves to beautify public spaces, and employs artists -- who might otherwise be a burden on the state.

Developers in Shanghai have their own reasons. According to some local critics, the developers hope the addition of the "museums" (or art centers) will add "panache" to their residential complexes, and lend them an air of sophistication they would otherwise lack.

"Some skeptics may see the location of the museums as a purely a commercial activity, but I don't see anything wrong in introducing art to the residents here," says Wang Derong, developer of Peninsular Art Center. "Naturally, I want to build up the image of our residential project. It is not a question of money, since I provided the space free of charge to the artists. Space here goes for 6,000 yuan (US$723) per square meter, so I actually incur a loss by offering this space."

Indeed, the image of Wang's company has been elevated by the presence of the art center -- it has also lured more apartment buyers who like the idea of living in close proximity to a "museum."

Lian Yang's property has also appreciated since the center's opening, increasing to 8,000 yuan per square meter from 5,000 yuan. Even neighboring residential areas have benefited by proximity.

"I didn't see how Rodin's 'Thinker' would affect our housing rate," says Wei Ping, president of Shanghai Lian Yang Group. "But some buyers did come here due to the presence of the 'Thinker.'"

"Shanghai is a cosmopolitan city, but the current sculptures scattered in the city are not so impressive. We don't have a defining sculpture, such as the Statue of Liberty in the US," says Dai Zhikang, president of Shanghai Zendai Century (Group) Co., Ltd. "I hope the 'Thumb' will be a good start."

Despite controversy of private art museums among artists, critics and developers, one thing is clear to the residents who live near them -- art is coming home.

(eastday.com February 13, 2003)