Happy Anniversary to Us! island6 is EIGHT!

Can you believe it?! It has been eight glorious years since island6 opened the doors to our arts center and started knocking down doors in the art world. Our fearless leader, Thomas Charvériat, registered island6 Arts Center Ltd in Hong Kong in March 2006, and just a few short weeks later, on April 1, 2006, we debuted our first exhibition – “ Invisible Layers, Electric Cities” – in our first location in Shanghai’s former Fou Foong Flour Mill.

island6 in the Fou Foong Flour Mill

Our historic debut – “Invisible Layers, Electric Cities.”

The “Invisible Layers, Electric Cities” Gallery Opening Invitation. Who got one??

“Invisible Layers, Electric Cities” featured the work of fifteen international artists, and laid the groundwork for the unique focus on collaboration that island6 is now known for. The exhibition explored the layered landscape of modern urbanization, and the relationships born out of this dizzying reality. This meditation on the urban condition led to the creation of an imaginary city in the gallery space, which was formed and reformed with every new interaction.

Opening performance

Take a walk down our glittering memory lane with this peek at some of the artwork featured in our big premiere.

Artwork by Ultralab

“Favelas I,” by Frank Plant

“Public Intimacy #3, Mapping Shanghai,” by Thomas Charvériat.

“White Collar,” by Iñigo Bilbao Lopategui.

Since that fateful day in 2006, island6 has grown in ways even we can’t believe! With three locations in Shanghai, and international branches in Hong Kong and Phuket, we just don’t know when to stop (probably never). Thank you to all of you Liu Dao lovers who have helped to make these eight fabulous years such a smashing success! Here’s to you!