Ancient Rome meets modern Shanghai： Two museums launch immersive histories

A new exhibition opens at the Shanghai Art Museum on New Year's Day 2026. Bound to Shanghai by architect Yu Ting begins with a single white cube titled Household. A total of seven installations will be unveiled, with a new work opening every two months. Together, they trace how personal lives and urban spaces shape one another. The exhibition is part of the museum's 70th anniversary series, using space to tell a story of home, memory, and the city. At the Ancient Rome Exhibition in the World Expo Museum, senior art docent Jia Wu dressed in ancient Roman attire as she explained the meaning behind some of the sculptures. Her outfit added a touch of realism and made it feel as though you had traveled back in time. Today, we will focus on the first part of the exhibition, which is about the 12 main gods of ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Ancient Greek and Roman mythology, and especially art, is like a series of samples. Each person has a set of props, a set of costumes, and their story has a fixed sequence. After understanding this knowledge, it is very helpful for us to understand other stories in Western art. During the New Year's Day holiday, people dressed as ancient Roman characters, such as Jupiter, Minerva, and Qubit, interact with visitors and even pose for photos. Activities like lectures focused on ancient Roman social life and hands-on workshops where you make a refrigerator magnet are also available.