Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

A SERIES of activities featuring the science fiction and fantasy works of French and Chinese artists officially kicked off at the All City mall in Nanshan District on Saturday.

The launch ceremony was followed by a high-end forum on Chinese and French science fiction and imagination.

Renowned sci-fi authors and fantasy artists from the two countries, including Pierre Bordage, Denis Bajram, Chen Bo, Xu Tianhua and Wang Jin-kang, were invited to conduct a dialogue around imagination creation.

“In China and France, the development of the sci-fi arts has maintained good momentum, especially through the Nantes International Science Fiction Festival in France, which is the largest science fiction festival in Europe and even the world. The experience of this festival is worth studying,” said Zhou Jiangtao, secretary of the Party working committee of Shekou Subdistrict.

Nantes is the sixth-largest city in France and holds Nantes International Science Fiction Festival in October and November.

The array of international exchanges between Chinese and French artists mainly included exhibitions of Chinese and French artwork, a Shenzhen Bay cruise, a high-end forum on Chinese and French science fiction and imagination, and a review of Chinese and French art films.

On Thursday, local residents were invited to admire the night view on Shenzhen Bay while having inspiring conversations with the French and Chinese artists on a cruise departing from Shekou Cruise Homeport.

Additionally, an exhibition of Chinese and French works of art opened Nov. 16 in the All City mall and the exhibition will run through Dec. 9. The art was also showcased in Shenzhen University from Friday to Sunday.

“These activities are not only aimed to discover artists, but also to enable more Shenzhen teenagers and adults to showcase their imagination and creativity,” said Ma Guobin, founder of Science and Fantasy Foundation.

The activities were sponsored by the Foreign Affairs Office of Nanshan District and organized by Shekou Subdistrict Office, Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats and the Science and Fantasy Foundation.