BAPE GALLERY™ SHANGHAI
A BATHING APE® has long stood as a cultural beacon in the convergence of streetwear and statement-making design, but its latest offering through BAPE GALLERY™ affirms its commitment to the global art dialogue. Making waves in Shanghai after a bold debut in Tokyo, the latest exhibition explores what it truly means to express without fear.
At the heart of the show is Yu Nagaba’s striking new piece, THREE WISE APES (2024), an acrylic on canvas work that distills the artist’s minimalist language into something deeply resonant. Measuring 49.7cm by 116.7cm, the piece plays on the proverbial adage “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil,” reimagined through the iconic lens of BAPE® culture. Rendered in Nagaba’s signature linework, the apes evoke a sense of playful wisdom, inviting viewers to contemplate not only what we choose to ignore—but also what we courageously choose to express.
This exhibition is more than a showcase—it’s a cultural moment. BAPE GALLERY™, founded in 2002, has become an avant-garde nexus where art, fashion, and design collide. Past collaborators include giants like KAWS, FUTURA, and Hajime Sorayama, and the Shanghai edition continues this legacy with 14 works by 11 contemporary visionaries, each interrogating the theme of “FEARLESS EXPRESSION.”
Signature motifs like APE HEAD, BABY MILO®︎, and the unmistakable BAPE® CAMO appear throughout the works—not merely as logos, but as symbols, deconstructed and reinterpreted through fine art. These pieces celebrate the elasticity of BAPE’s visual language, proving its relevance not just in closets, but on canvases and gallery walls.
In an innovative twist, the show spills beyond the walls of the gallery through limited-edition graphic T-shirts inspired directly by the featured artworks. Fans and collectors alike are invited to wear their appreciation—literally—with each TEE transforming the collector’s gallery into a walking exhibition.
Shanghai’s iteration of BAPE GALLERY™ is not just an art show. It’s an invitation to challenge norms, embrace the unexpected, and take part in a global movement of fearless creativity. Here, expression isn’t just encouraged—it’s a way of life.