Jay Chou’s Latest Side Quest: Curating an Art Exhibition

Jay Chou, known as the revered “King of Mandopop” worldwide, is on another side quest — this time, he’s taking on the world of fine art.

Chou’s latest collaboration with WEF EEL ART is an exhibition of “masterpieces,” in a series dubbed Art Color With Artistes. The inaugural exhibition of the series, curated by Chou, is poised to debut in Shanghai in 2023.

In a short promotional video, Chou speaks casually and freely about his thought process, and about being introduced to art by his mother who worked as an art teacher.

“As a curator, I hope to bring everyone a new and refreshing experience,” says Chou.

“I was so excited when I saw the tickets go live,” reads one top comment. “I thought it was for a concert, I went crazy.”

In 2022, Chou’s album “Greatest Works of Art” didn’t just earn acclaim; it took the world by storm. The music video for the title track pulled in an astonishing 140 million views on Weibo in a single day, and Chou was even crowned among the highest-selling global artists of 2022 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

Now, the mandopop legend is completing a victory lap that’s laden with side quests.

Recently, Chou graced the cover of L’Officiel’s September issue. In a revealing interview, he discussed how the culture of France shaped his artistic journey, alongside other themes like kung fu, basketball, and magic, all of which have captivated him since youth.

Chou’s affinity for magic is nothing new — remember when he took on a role in Now You See Me 2? And who could forget his 12-episode series on Netflix, J-Style Trip? The latter saw Chou hosting a travel show with friends, performing street magic for strangers along the way.

But music is still the main dish. The Jay Chou Carnival World Tour 2023 hits Shanghai tomorrow, and just added a second concert to its next stop in Bangkok.

Images via WEF EEL ART