Luo Songsong, Martin Li

    martin.mouse@163.com

    SHENZHEN is a modern and international city and will gain inspiration as a host of art exhibitions, a German photographer told Shenzhen Daily at the opening of a joint art exhibition at OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District on Saturday.

    Petra Klingler is one of the eight international artists taking part in the exhibition, which is titled “OrientAsian” and aims to raise awareness of issues in Asia through the visions of individual artists. She said that the exhibition will also give Chinese people the opportunity to see, taste and smell the cultures and traditions of the foreign artists. In addition, she added that “Shenzhen should have unique ideas and traditions to represent it since Shenzhen is Shenzhen, not a second Shanghai or Hong Kong.”

    Klinger has lived in China since 1987 and has witnessed the country’s changes in cities where she has lived, including Shanghai and Shenzhen. One of her photos shows an elderly man wearing glasses, and Klinger said that though his vision is poor, and he suffers — he still smiles and still has hope.

    The photographer added that the aim of this photo is to encourage the younger generation to look forward, not backward. She also said that her work is inspired by living in the city — in addition to inspiration from her hometown and her country.

    Brittan Aebischer, an American artist, said that though Shenzhen’s cultural influence is increasing it still requires more sponsorship and larger convention centers to host art exhibitions.

    He said that “younger people in the city are trying to find what they want to be,” so the city should nurture a cultural identity with which they can identify and which will help them find a sense of belonging. Aebischer uses mixed media to express himself in his art, and said that “all things contain formal and informal structures — both physical and metaphysical.”

    He suggested that people in the city should look to their traditions for their cultural identity, adding that the eight artists at this exhibition are “trying to use common objects to create a platform for conversation.”

    Organized by Dragon Fruit Events and J & Z Gallery, the exhibition will last for two weeks and is being held at No. 101, Building F1, OCT-LOFT, Enping Road, Nanshan District.