A forum was held to discuss developing artistic creativity at the Dafen Oil Painting Village on Dec. 18. Experts and artists described their aspirations for Dafen’s creative development.

    Speakers expressed confidence that the Longgang oil painting village has potential to change from a place known for copying art to a home of original and creative work.

    Dafen Oil Painting Village is located in the Buji Subdistrict of Longgang District.

    Over the past few decades, the area has established itself as the source of mass-produced paintings. It is also home to incredibly talented artists and a few exhibition areas.

    Already commercially successful, the area has attracted artists and businessmen. Dafen is now looking to promote original artwork.

    Douglas Kotwall, the director of the K11 Art Foundation, and Liu Wenting, a consultant of a Taiwanese culture space, shared their experience working in the art industry in Taiwan. Liu said that Dafen can be forged into a creative area through creative labs that also make use of the area’s commercial connections.

    Liu said Dafen Oil Painting Village will become an art center in Shenzhen.

    Peter Hasdell, from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said the village should focus on urban planning and high technology as applied to art.

    Hasdell said the village could start making electronic art in cooperation with Huaqiangbei-based electronics companies.

    Thomas Tsang, from the University of Hong Kong, said the village should start an art incubator.

    Many other scholars and designers contributed to the talks. As a representative of the local government, Huang Weiwen, the director of the Shenzhen Center of Public Art, said that the government would do its best to help Dafen become a base of creative arts.

    (Zhang Qian)