Martin Li, Zhang Jiana

    martin.mouse@163.com

    AN installation art exhibition named “Superheroes in Baishizhou” is continuing in a simple one-room apartment of only 12.5 square meters in Baishizhou urban village in Nanshan District.

    A photo stand-in is installed in the middle of the room, on which there are five hero images: Methane Man, Wonder Granny, Stir Fry Fly, the Amazing Beer Babe and Village Guardian & Super Dog.

    Created by a local artist, Liu Wei, the installation was colored by several other co-curators, including American Mary Ann O’Donnell, who has been living in Shenzhen for about 20 years.

    The five hero images represent five common social roles in any of Shenzhen’s urban villages: deliveryman, child care provider, food hawker, bar waitress and village fireman, said O’Donnell.

    “Superheroes can be people who succeed in their own achievements. They can also be people who make efforts to sustain others’ lives,” said O’Donnell.

    O’Donnell added that the superheroes provide the services and social networks that Shenzhen’s factory workers need to make themselves at home in society.

    “The exhibition is aimed at emphasizing the function of the urban village, which provides an affordable living place for migrant workers and fresh graduates,” she said.

    “The urban village is the starting point for many people pursuing their dreams in Shenzhen … we hope people can learn about the importance of urban villages through the exhibition,” said O’Donnell.

    The exhibition also tries to build a bridge between young artists and the people who live in urban villages.

    “Young artists can hardly find a place to exhibit their works. Besides, urban villagers hardly ever pay a visit to art galleries,” she said.

    “It doesn’t matter if visitors can understand our works. We want them to come for fun,” she added.

    “I can’t understand the meaning of the exhibition, but it’s fun for my children. We bring my children here to have them see something they have never seen before,” said Zhang, a shoe seller who brought his family to enjoy the exhibition.

    Visitors are also welcome to write anything they want on the wall of a room full of cartoon images.

    “My dream is not a big one. Happiness matters most,” wrote Ma Yuntao, an art gallery employee.

    “The urban village is a social topic and it’s more appropriate for an exhibition about it to be held in its own environment,” added Ma.