Within every city, two cities simultaneously emerge. The first represents all that is good and right and desirable; the second city everything that we long to see changed. The twocities art gallery seeks to help build the first city, through art and events that champion beauty, commitment, thoughtfulness and community. By providing space in the cultural world for Chinese artists and promoting academic development, we aim to help young artists find their voice in the world of art. twocities is one of the few galleries in China that specializes in contemporary three-dimensional art. Our gallery represents Chinese artists pioneering in glass, metal, ceramic, and wood and lacquer. The glass artists we work with are considered the first generation of contemporary glass artists in China. These artists come from an academic studio art movement, studying and teaching fine arts at schools such as Shanghai University, Nanjing Art Institute, Qing Hua University, the Central Academy for the Arts and the Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute. Artists represented include Qiao Shi Guang, father of the modern wood and lacquer movement in China; Zhuang Xiao Wei, leader of the studio glass movement in China; Chen Guang Hui, a pioneering artist in the modern ceramics field; and Guo Xin, an established jewelry artist promoting jewelry as art in China. Refraction: China’s Contemporary Glass October 20 — November 15, 2007 Refraction: China’s Contemporary Glass is an exhibit featuring the first generation of contemporary glass artists in China. These artists are part of the academic glass movement, which arose from the studio glass movement that flourished in the United States and Europe starting in the 70’s. As light passes from one medium to another, the change in speed causes a change in direction. The eye perceives the wave bending and what results is a new image within a new context. The same effect could be said of the Chinese contemporary art movement, particularly in the field of glass. These artists shape traditional ideas with modern sensibilities, experimenting with various techniques to create a new world. The artists featured in this exhibit all hail from the Fine Arts College of Shanghai University.