One of the steel sculptures unveiled in the 398 Art Zone in Datong city [Photo/dtnews.cn]

The city of Datong, Shanxi province recently unveiled a group of steel sculptures in the Bei Wei Dynasty 398 Art Zone, which got a lot of attention from the public and the local newspaper, Datong Evening News, which published photographs of them, on Dec 11.

Visitors can get a look at the steel shapes, made of scrap metal bearings, screws, windlasses, and drills, alongside the main roads through the zone, and in keeping with the zone's feel of occupying an abandoned gas plant.

The 79 steel sculptures are the work of professors and students of China's Central Academy of Fine Arts and Taiyuan University, some of whom have wonnational sculpture awards. And, the sculptures do fit the space well and add a unique artistic style. The city also has the China Sculpture Museum and Heyang Art Gallery, for a large collection of modern Chinese sculpture.

The art zone is a key city culture project, whose next step is to focus on live concerts, artist studios, and a sculpture base with the fine arts academy. The zone has held several music festivals, attracting visitors from other parts of China.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw