Highlights of this year's fair were the colossal sculptures on display. The art fair was first organized in 1997 and has been dubbed the best art fair for contemporary art in China.

This year the fair is focusing on colossuses and has attracted many masterpieces such as the distinguished French sculptor Cesar's "Thumb", Arman's "venus aux trouba doars" and Yang Yingfeng's "Phoenix".

Insiders say the "Thumb " would be the highest-priced exhibit with a price tag of 2.6 million yuan (US$313,253).

Chinese sculptor Yan Youren is also there and has moved his 2.92-metre-high sculpture, "The Pillar of Life" into the exhibition hall. He has spent more than 20 years completing the work.

Wang Anwei, an official of the organizing committee of the art fair, said: "In addition to the sculptures, participating contemporary galleries will display works created by world-renowned masters such as Zhu Dequn and Zhao Wuji.

"The organizing committee has adopted a new method to lure more middle-class families to become artwork collectors. We have arranged 162 stalls for exhibiting all kinds of household ornaments, small sculptures, prints, which will add more color to the daily life of an ordinary family."

The organizing committee of the art show believes the five-day fair will attract more visitors than ever before.

10:00am-18:00pm, November 13-17

Shanghai Mart

99 Xingyi Lu

25 yuan

(Shanghai Star November 15, 2002)