As society ages, facilitating meaningful encounters between different generations through artistic practice has become a key focus for urban public cultural spaces. In response, Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art and the Shanghai United Foundation have jointly launched the "Art Without Age" intergenerational co-creation program. Guided by the Hongkou District Office of Spiritual Civilization, the District Culture and Tourism Bureau, and the District Civil Affairs Bureau, the initiative will run from March 2026 to January 2027 across Hongkou.
According to data released by the Hongkou District Government, individuals aged 60 and above accounted for 45.2% of the district’s total population by the end of 2024—the highest proportion citywide. In this historic urban community, such demographic shifts are reshaping the foundations of local governance. The art program aims to highlight the value and dignity of older adults while enabling younger generations to engage with elders as part of a shared journey through life.
Rooted in Hongkou, Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art has partnered closely with the United Foundation, which has long focused on aging-related issues. Over the course of a year, the program will use art as a medium to connect diverse activities—including video documentation, community workshops, oral history collection, and neighborhood exhibitions—building a bridge across generations and creating a model for community art education that integrates museums, local communities, and public welfare.
The project is structured around three main components. The "Community Art Season" will feature five events fostering intergenerational exchange. In March, the tinySpot studio will host dialogues on aging. In May, photographer Jin Ou will guide participants in documenting life through photography. In July, documentary filmmaker Zou Xueping will work with youth to film the daily lives of community elders. In October, sound artist Yin Yi will lead seniors and young people on an auditory exploration of their surroundings. In November, instructor Zhang Mengshi will help older residents navigate "Digital Hongkou" and use AI to capture New Year moments.
The "Elders’ Theater" initiative will focus on creating video-based theater works inspired by life stories, with special attention to individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease. The program emphasizes that Alzheimer’s does not erase life experience but represents a different way of perceiving and being. Teams will visit four to six households, using contemporary theater and video art to offer a platform where those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers can feel seen, heard, and respected.
In December, an annual community exhibition will showcase the year’s achievements. Stories from participants will be presented through photo displays in local lanes, looping documentary screenings, and takeaway sound maps, among other formats.
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