Bathhouse stories and Art Deco memories with Qiao Shanghai at the library

A new exhibition celebrating the lasting legacy of Art Deco in Shanghai has opened on the fifth floor of the Shanghai Library East Branch.

The exhibition, titled "Modern Story – Art Deco in Modern Shanghai," launched with a talk titled "A Modern Tale of a Shanghai Building – Lishui Bathhouse," presented by Qiao Zhengyue, the founder of Qiao Shanghai Studio.

The Lishui Bathhouse, situated outside Xiaonanmen in Shanghai at the intersection of Fugu Street and Nanxiaopi Lane, was opened in 1936. This structure, funded by a businessman from Shaoxing, was designed in the popular Art Deco style that characterized the city during that era.

A lecture held in the library drew an enthusiastic audience, including families with children, who were introduced to the beauty of art and architecture. Numerous professionals, invited to the event, provided insightful explanations regarding the origins of Art Deco and its connections to Shanghai.

Qiao shared behind-the-scenes stories from her years of documenting Shanghai's architectural heritage, helping the audience to gain insight into how Art Deco became intertwined with the city's identity.

A short film about the Lishui Bathhouse was also screened. It featured archival materials, photographs and detailed footage of the building's Art Deco elements. The film provided a glimpse of the structure nestled deep within the old lanes, capturing not only its design but also the life and memories associated with it.

Additionally, Qiao showcased several iconic Art Deco buildings throughout Shanghai, prompting attendees to collectively reflect on the city's architectural legacy and the era it represented.

The City News Service had also invited members of the international community, including poets, authors and architects to the event.

Jessica Gleeson expressed her delight at seeing the city commemorate what she characterized as small but significant historical events. She saw the Lishui Bathhouse as a counterpart to the Peace Hotel, as both served as key gathering places for their respective communities.

"My mom taught art history. I've heard about Art Deco for a long time. I think that Shanghai is one of the cities in the world that really celebrates it. Part of the city's growth can be attributed to the widespread popularity of Art Deco. I think it's a great place to explore how Art Deco shaped the city," she said.

"I've been living in Shanghai for eight years now. I was the author of the Shanghai travel guide, so I'm really into Shanghai history and Shanghai architecture. For example, I really love the Peace Hotel, the style, the architecture and the vibe of the place. I also would recommend Yuanmingyuan Road," said Salvador Marinaro from Argentina, a poet and creative writing professor at Fudan University.

"I think that the best part of the talk was the Lishui building, because it is really unique. This is the first time I've heard about it. I really love the design of the door as well, which is really unique to that place. I want to visit the place after the talk," he added.

Kelly Ritter, professor of Architectural History at the Savannah College of Art and Design, also shared her insights as a specialist:

"I have my PhD in Shanghai architecture. So I'm a specialist in Shanghai's history, especially in 1930s buildings and art. In my opinion, it's been 100 years since we have had the Art Deco style. I think that Art Deco provides really interesting sources of inspiration for contemporary architects, especially through the use of color and form.

"I think that right now there's a lot of opportunity to study more Chinese architects rather than focusing mainly on László Hudec and many other Western architects. I would be really excited if future research, especially on this Lishui Bathhouse that was presented today, could find out more about the Chinese architect and collaborators, because this would be a really big opportunity for study.

"And the interior design of the Lishui is very sensitive, and I love that it was created for the community and continued to serve the community for, you know, decades after it was built. I hope we can find more examples of this kind of community-focused architecture that truly embodies the spirit of a neighborhood or community within Shanghai," she said.