The 32-year-old Shenzhen designer Feng Zhifeng believes people define a city according to their personal feelings.

His installation, titled "Urban Expressions," is among the unconventional works of art, including designs, illustrations, installations and sculptures, by 45 independent designers from Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries like Japan, Italy and Argentina, which are on display at Coco Park in Futian District.

The exhibition, titled "Outlook·Shenzhen," opened to the public Saturday and will last until Aug. 15.

Feng's installation comprises a 2-meter-wide and 6-meter-long aerial map of Shenzhen, with sticks representing five different emotions such as depression, anger, peace, smile and excitement, provided for visitors' use.

"How do we define a city? Do we think Shenzhen is a city full of pressure and anger, a sentimental and susceptible city, or a harmonious and happy city?" said Feng, a graduate of the Art College of Shenzhen University.

"In fact, our definition of a city is closely linked to our different feelings every day as we live in the city," Feng said.

"If we regard ourselves as a part of the city, we can find everyone in the city, including aboriginal villagers, migrant workers and homeless beggars, makes up the city, and everyday their feelings constitute the interesting expressions of the city," he added.

At the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to participate in Feng's installation by gluing sticks of their choice on locations on the map.

"When the exhibition is over, my installation, in which unhappy people can let off their discontent and happy people can share their joy with others, will become a true record of many people’s emotions about this city," the designer said.

According to the exhibition's two chief organizers Feng and Shanghai-based artist Li Li, "Outlook·Shenzhen" is a continuation of the avant-garde art exhibition "Outlook·Shanghai," which was held in Shanghai in December 2005.

The exhibition in Shanghai showcases 62 artists and designers from China and abroad with more than 100 works. It drew more than 5,000 visitors.

"The reason why we chose to run the exhibition in a bustling commercial center such as Coco Park in the central business area in Shenzhen, instead of a quiet fine arts museum or gallery, is because we wanted the exhibition in Shenzhen to follow the party-like style of its predecessor in Shanghai," said Li.

"Through the exhibition, we aimed to narrow down the distance between design and art, and we put more stress on the interaction between audiences and artworks on display," Li added.
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(Shenzhen Daily August 2, 2007)