THE 2012 Shenzhen Fringe Festival that opened Saturday with a parade of 18 art groups has turned Shenzhen Bay in Nanshan District into a sea of peach red, the color selected to symbolize this year’s event. Participants from Germany, Brazil, Britain, Hong Kong, Macao and Shenzhen have brought their art to the city.

    This is the third year the festival has been held in Shenzhen. The theme of “Fringe! Go and Leap” is aimed at reflecting the dynamism of the city’s young population. It is also a community event aimed at encouraging interaction between artists and ordinary citizens.

    The festival isn’t just about eye-catching makeup and wacky costumes; it is promoting the serious issue of environmental protection.

    The festival is composed of five sections, music, comedy, dance, performance art and visual arts, involving up to 98 performances by 41 international art groups in nine days until Sunday.

    The festival will conclude with a performance featuring subversive street art by seven teams at Haide Square on Sunday.

    (Zhao Jie)