SHENZHEN has added a new cultural landmark to its skyline. The Shenzhen International Museum of Art (SIMoA) officially opened its doors on May 30, marking a significant addition to the city’s vibrant arts scene.

Located in the heart of Guangming Science City, the museum joins the Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum, Science Park, and Science City Sports Center to form a cluster of scientific and cultural landmarks in the Greater Bay Area.

The museum boasts 15 international-standard exhibition halls, a 12,000-square-meter professional collection storage facility, a 700-seat indoor theater and outdoor amphitheater, a 200-seat lecture hall, a book and documentation center, and dedicated commercial spaces. From professional exhibitions to public experiences, and from academic research to art-infused living, the museum offers artistic experiences for all ages and in multiple scenarios.

Seven opening exhibitions present a more complete picture of art — from history to the present, from East to West, and from traditional media to the cutting edge of technology.

‘Return of National Treasures: The Bronze Animal Heads & The Memories of Ancient China’

Seven bronze animal heads from the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) have gathered in Shenzhen. Among them, the ox, tiger, monkey, and pig heads are original artifacts, recreating the full appearance of the Old Summer Palace’s water clock. Standing before them, one seems to gaze across time into history, sensing the profound echoes of centuries past.

The exhibition connects Shang (1600-1046 B.C.) and Zhou (1046-256 B.C.) bronze ritual vessels, Northern Dynasty (386-581) stone carved Buddhist statues, and the modern-era bronze animal heads.

Venue: Collection Hall, 4/F

Dates: Through July 20

‘Realm of Masters: Five Centuries of Treasures from the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest’

The exhibition traces the evolution of European painting from the Renaissance and Baroque periods to the modern era. From religious subjects and mythological allegories to secular narratives, the works reflect not only the changing spiritual landscape of European society but also the continuous renewal of artistic language and aesthetic concepts.

Venue: Halls 2-3, 2/F

Dates: Through Aug. 31

‘NIEO: The Future of Art’

This exhibition brings together nearly 50 works by internationally acclaimed contemporary artists, including Anish Kapoor, Olafur Eliasson, Damien Hirst, Tobias Rehberger, and Kim Yun-cheol.

Venue: Halls 1, 5, 11, 18-19, 2F-6F

Dates: Through April 30, 2027

‘Xu Bing: Word Playgrounds’

Guided by the philosophy that “words are games, symbols are theaters, and cognition is a playground,” this exhibition employs rich media and immersive, experiential settings to create extensive public education opportunities. Edutainment at its core, the exhibition invites audiences of all ages to experience the creativity of Chinese thinking through play.

Venue: Halls 14-17, 5/F

Dates: Through April 30, 2027

‘A Glimpse of the Infinite: The 1st Shenzhen Art and Technology Biennale’

Bringing together creations by approximately 50 globally renowned artists and scientists, this biennale presents over 100 works. Through media such as sound, light, algorithms, and code, the artists delineate a liminal field between physical reality and perceptual experience, where works no longer exist as stable objects but remain in a state of continuous generation and evolution.

Venue: Halls 4, 7-9, 12-13, 3F-6F

Dates: Through April 30, 2027

‘Oriental Origins: A Journey of Chinese Abstract Art’

Chinese abstraction has consistently maintained a local stance while embracing cross-cultural characteristics, forming a complete developmental trajectory over the past century. Deeply rooted in traditional Chinese aesthetic resources, the exhibition achieves an abstract translation of traditional aesthetic spirit under the guidance of Eastern philosophical concepts such as Dao and Zen.

Venue: Halls 5-6, 3/F

Dates: Through Nov. 20

‘Ever Flowing Ink: Selected Works by Modern Masters in the Collection of the CAFA Art Museum’

This exhibition features 60 classic works by more than 20 modern Chinese painting and calligraphy masters from the collection of the CAFA Art Museum in Beijing. It unfolds the developmental trajectory of modern Chinese painting and calligraphy. Amid the tension between tradition and innovation, a generation of art pioneers responded to the impact of their era, ultimately forging this magnificent trajectory.

Venue: Hall 10, 4/F

Dates: Through July 29

Ticketing

Tickets can be purchased through the official WeChat account “深圳国际美术馆” (SIMoA) or the “保利票务” (Poly Ticketing) miniprogram.

Tickets are also available for purchase at the museum entrance.

Getting to SIMoA

Metro: Line 6 to Guangming Station (光明站), Exit D; then transfer to bus B956, or take a taxi

Bus: M549 or M532 to the Shenzhen International Museum of Art Station (深圳国际美术馆站)(Tang Li)