A building was once new; a century later, it became a classic.
A work in white porcelain is born today in a new language, awaiting time’s answer.
When the two meet, history is no longer merely retrospective, nor is innovation confined to the present.
The New, The Classic is the moment when the classic and the future recognize one another.— Heinrich Wang
From September 9 to October 8, 2026, NewChi presents The New, The Classic, a porcelain art exhibition by Heinrich Wang at Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai.
Contemporary white porcelain enters this century-old landmark on the Bund, opening a dialogue across time—between history, architecture and contemporary art.
When the New of Today Encounters a Century-Old Classic
A building was once new; a century later, it became a classic.
A work in white porcelain is born today through a new language of design and sculpture, awaiting time’s answer.
The New, The Classic takes “Today’s Innovation, Tomorrow’s Classic” as its central theme. As Heinrich Wang’s contemporary porcelain works enter the historic interiors of Fairmont Peace Hotel, the purity, light and structure of white porcelain reflect the memories carried by the architecture.
This encounter is more than a juxtaposition of tradition and contemporaneity. It is a meditation on how innovation may, over time, become a classic.
Situated at the intersection of the Bund and Nanjing Road East, Fairmont Peace Hotel was originally opened as the Cathay Hotel in 1929. Today, it remains one of Shanghai’s most recognizable historic landmarks. Its architectural language, Art Deco interiors and place within the city’s collective memory provide The New, The Classic with an exhibition setting of exceptional historical depth.
The Contemporary White Porcelain of Heinrich Wang and NewChi
Artist Heinrich Wang has long explored the ancient tradition of white porcelain through a contemporary language of design and sculpture. In his work, an object extends beyond function to become a vessel for culture, emotion and reflections on life.
In 2003, Wang founded NewChi, continuing his exploration of the boundaries of porcelain form and high-temperature firing techniques. Through geometric structures, vertical lines, openwork, a sense of suspension and precisely considered proportions, he has opened new possibilities for expressing traditional porcelain in a contemporary context.
The exhibition brings together significant white porcelain works by Heinrich Wang and NewChi, including Majestic Presence, Spring Breeze, Harmony in Full Bloom, Glory Across Directions, Wandering Clouds and Great Fortune and Prosperity.
Through these works, visitors are invited to discover how white porcelain can move between functional object, sculpture and cultural symbol.
Encountering The New, The Classic at Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai
The New, The Classic is presented across the lobby and Cin Cin Bar on the second floor of Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai.
As visitors enter the hotel, they encounter the works within a space where architecture, art and urban history converge. Shifting scales and changing light reveal the distinctive material qualities of white porcelain throughout the exhibition.
Whether you are an international visitor planning a journey to Shanghai, an art lover exploring the Bund, or a collector interested in contemporary Chinese cultural design and porcelain art, the exhibition offers an opportunity to discover Heinrich Wang and NewChi’s more than two decades of exploration in contemporary white porcelain.
Exhibition Information
Exhibition: The New, The Classic — Heinrich Wang: A White Porcelain Exhibition
Dates: September 9–October 8, 2026
Venue: Lobby and Cin Cin Bar, 2F, Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai
Address: 20 Nanjing Road East, Shanghai, China
Artist: Heinrich Wang
Presented by: NewChi
Admission to the exhibition area at Cin Cin Bar on the second floor is complimentary with advance registration. Please contact us to request an admission pass. Opening hours and visitor arrangements are subject to on-site availability.
