The largest show for contemporary art in Asia opened its doors for an expert audience on Tuesday in Shanghai.

ShContemporay, with 150 participating galleries from 20 countries, is the most important of three art shows running this week in the eastern Chinese city.

The other two in the framework of the so-called Art Compass are the Shanghai Biennale, running until Tuesday and the Shanghai Art Fair, which is open until Saturday.

This year's biennale, titled Translocalmotion, deals with the effects of urbanization and is held the Shanghai art museum.

Half the artists at the second ShComtemporary, open to the public from Thursday to Saturday at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre are from Asia, the remainder are from Europe and the United States.

The exhibition, organized by fair director Lorenzo Rudolf shows works from classic modernism to contemporary works.

Highlights include the Best of Discovery featuring 32 up-and-coming Asia-Pacific artists and Outdoor Project with installations, performances and large-scale sculptures outside the exhibition building.

Both projects are to serve as a "catalyst between eastern and wester art scenes," a press release said.