Art season kicks off in iconic downtown area

Their artworks are on display alongside other creations from all 15 shortlisted artists.

These works of digital art, installations and an interactive game device are showcased in one of the area's historical buildings that encapsulates Shanghai's shikumen architectural style that first appeared in the city in the 1860s. Shikumen literally means "stone-framed gate".

Also featured are three artists in residence who have been invited to spend four weeks observing and working in the area from September.

Among them is Yin Yi, a 44-year-old from Shanghai who prefers to present his visual arts with music as a melodic background.

He has invited an amateur band of retirees to play live music every day during the exhibition.

As visitors stroll through the artworks, old-time melodies are played on the saxophone, guitar and flute.

An occasionally missed note can remind people of hearing music-loving neighbors practicing an instrument on their balconies.

The art season also consists of new site-specific artworks created for the community by five groups of artists. Scattered in the central square, back lanes and street corners, these artworks invite visitors to touch, look and play with them.

The landmark area's development plan integrated the early 20th-century shikumen architecture with contemporary urban lifestyle and fashion elements, as well modern features and facilities.

According to Zhang, one of the planned areas strategically covers a space of 1.2 square kilometers, connecting the People's Square and Yu Yuan Garden.

As a mixed-use area in the heart of the city, with historical and cultural significance, as well as a strong connection to Shanghai's urban spirit, the community is an experimental field for the arts and an open environment for young artists to present their works and explore interdisciplinary experimentation, Zhang says.