Hi there,
If you think Shenzhen is just about hardware and coding, think again. This week, the city’s creative soul is literally "glowing."
The 3rd Art Week Shenzhen (AWSZ) is officially live (March 22–29). We're talking 220+ events across 100+ venues. To save you from the "analysis paralysis," I’ve combed through the entire map to bring you the 4 pillars of this year's art scene.
Here is your "What's Up" Art Week edit:
01 | Exhibition Recommendation
This unit brings together 100+ institutions to showcase the rich face of Shenzhen’s contemporary art ecosystem.
MOCAUP (Futian) | 深圳市当代艺术与城市规划馆
Shen Shaomin: Minus 20 Degrees
The Vibe: A literal indoor winter. Step into two massive white domes where it’s actually snowing. With real snow stacking up to 30cm, you’ll experience a "frozen moment" of cold, ice, and silence right in the middle of subtropical Shenzhen.
Dates: March 22 – May 10
Ai Jing: Walking Under the Sun
The Vibe: From a 90s folk legend (known for My 1997) to an international contemporary artist. This show features 100+ works exploring the intersection of industrial civilization, personal memory, and global identity.
Dates: March 24 – June 21
Yan Shanchun: The Color of Pomegranates
The Vibe: A visual poem told through copperplate etchings. Exploring the pomegranate as a symbol across cultures, Yan’s work captures both the fragility and the abundance of life in a uniquely Eastern narrative.
Dates: Feb 7 – April 18
SWCAC (Shekou) | 海上世界文化艺术中心
Zhang Peili: The Remaining Poetic
The Vibe: A deep dive into the work of the "Father of Chinese Video Art." This exhibition spans 20 years, featuring everything from his early body-centric videos to high-tech AI interactive installations. It’s a rational, critical look at reality in our hyper-digital age.
Dates: March 23 – July 7
Shekou Gallery | 蛇口画廊
3-2-1, HERE WE GO! (Group Show)
The Vibe: Three Gen-Z artists (born post-'95) from Manila, Daqing, and Paris collide in Beijing. From "King’s Game" style abstractions to visual diaries of emotion, this is a raw look at the new visual language of the next generation.
Dates: March 21 – May 8
Pingshan Art Museum | 坪山美术馆
Wang Huangsheng: Foam Park
The Vibe: An immersive world of foam. Walk through a "park" that invites you to peel back the layers of consumerist "bubbles" and social media personas to find the substance beneath.
Dates: Dec 6 (2025) – April 11
02 | Art Roaming: Urban Legends
Launched in 2025, Art Roaming invites local guides to turn their city observations into walkable routes. Out of 20 unique trails, we’ve hand-picked the top 4 most intriguing routes for you to explore.
Route 1: "Studio Hopping" in Nantou Ancient Town
The Vibe: Tucked within the 1,700-year-old history of Nantou, artists live side-by-side with traditional dessert shops and trendy boutiques. Join local collective "Handshake Stage" to peek into these hidden studios, chat with creators, and discover why they chose this historic maze as their home.
When: March 29 | 17:00 - 20:00
Stops: Various artist studios within Nantou Ancient Town.
Route 2: The Legend of "Longgang Monster Building"
The Vibe: Explore one of Shenzhen’s most famous urban legends. This 11-story concrete fortress, built by a Hong Kong businessman in the 70s, looks like a "madman’s labyrinth" in the middle of old tiles and low houses. The tour includes an on-site screening of the film Longgang Monster Building and a deep dive into the historic Longgang Old Street.
When: March 29 | 13:30 - 18:30
Meeting Point: Liyuan Metro Station, Exit D.
Route 3: Shekou Art Cluster – "She Glows"
The Vibe: Shekou is evolving into an international yet local art sanctuary. This route connects 7 key spaces—from the coastal SWCAC to avant-garde galleries like Shekou Gallery and de Sarthe. It’s a curated walk to feel the harmony between contemporary art and Shenzhen's seaside lifestyle.
When: March 27 | 14:00 - 17:30
Main Stops: SWCAC, Shekou Gallery, Emerge, and more.
Route 4: The Bus 26 Aesthetic Tour
The Vibe: Skip the famous art districts and take a public bus. Route 26 travels through the city's real cracks—office buildings, community corners, and industrial parks. Discover how art grows in everyday street blocks and how aesthetic spaces dissolve urban alienation.
When: March 28 | 14:00 - 18:00
Stops: Huang Jia Studio, TONG CLUB, KennaXu Gallery (via Bus 26).
03 | Open Studios: Behind the Scenes
18 private artist studios are opening their doors across the city—from the futuristic OCT-LOFT to the rustic Wutong Mountain. This is a rare chance to step into the "birthplace" of art and transform from a spectator into a co-creator.
Cao Xiang: Nature Meets Canvas (Wutong Mountain)
The Vibe: Tucked away in a village at the foot of Wutong Mountain, Cao Xiang’s studio exists in the sweet spot between nature and modernization. His surrounding environment is his "palette"—the scenes in his paintings can often be found just steps outside his door.
Special Event: Join the "Plant Energy Walk" (2km) starting from the studio to feel the hidden vibrations of the local flora.
When: March 27 | 15:00 - 17:00
Where: Hengpailing Village, Wutong Mountain.
曹象工作室：植物问诊行走 预约二维码
He Duoling & Zhu Keran: Poetry & Incense (Longgang)
The Vibe: A first-time opening for this joint studio! He Duoling continues his legendary poetic style with oil paintings of flora, while Zhu Keran explores healing through agarwood installations (using Hainan agarwood). It’s a sensory journey through visual poetry and ancient scents.
When: March 29 | 15:00 - 18:00
Where: Haida Tech Park, Longgang.04 | Wave of Voices: The Deep Dives
何多苓&朱可染工作室：参观艺术家 预约二维码
Hei Yiyang: The "Window of the World" (OCT-LOFT)
The Vibe: His studio "SenseTeam" (想得美) is an experimental institution. Currently hosting the "Window of the World" exhibition, which uses currency patterns from different nations to explore global diversity and mutual respect. It’s art with a deep, inclusive worldview.
When: March 23 - 29 | 14:00 - 18:00
Where: North Zone, OCT-LOFT, Nanshan.
黑一烊工作室：“世界之窗” 预约二维码
Li Liao & Yang Jun: Art in Daily Labor (Nantou)
The Vibe: A power couple whose life is their art. You might remember Li Liao’s project where he worked as a delivery rider to support his family’s creative life. Their studio in Nantou is a dynamic, open system where domestic life and artistic practice are inseparable.
Current Show: Featuring Dongfang Xu’s "Chagan Ele," exploring nomadic Shamanic culture.
When: March 23 - 29 | 14:00 - 20:00 (No reservation needed!)
Where: Chunjing Street, Nantou Ancient Town.
04 | Wave of Voices – The Deep Dives
Voices from across the spectrum—artists, curators, and collectors—come together to discuss the survival of galleries, the evolution of institutions, and how mega-events are shaping the Bay Area’s art ecosystem. Here are 4 talks at Sea World (SWCAC) L2 that you shouldn't miss.
Crossover & Return: New Language in Interdisciplinary Creation
The Vibe: What happens when professional designers dive into the fine art world? It’s not just a switch; it’s a constant back-and-forth. This talk explores how design structures meet artistic intuition to create a brand-new visual language.
When: March 27 | 14:00 - 15:00
Where: SWCAC L2 Member Space.
Reimagining Boundaries: The Artist as Studio Host
The Vibe: When an artist opens their private workspace to the public, they become both a creator and a host. Should the audience see a "work-in-progress" mess or a polished gallery? A deep dive into the balance between creation, operation, and public engagement.
When: March 28 | 14:00 - 15:00
Where: SWCAC L2 Member Space.
Cultivating the Soil: Shaping the Bay Area Art Ecosystem
The Vibe: "Fertile soil" isn't natural; it’s cultivated through labor and time. As art weeks and biennials land in the Bay Area with unprecedented density, what happens when the crowds leave? How do we turn temporary energy into long-term growth?
When: March 28 | 16:30 - 17:30
Where: SWCAC L2 Member Space.
Public Mission vs. Innovative Syntax: The Future of Museums
The Vibe: Museums must balance their traditional mission (research & education) with the need for high-tech, cross-disciplinary innovation. Can museums move beyond "collecting history" to actually "creating history"? Join the frontrunners of this movement to discuss the future of the Bay Area's institutions.
When: March 29 | 15:15 - 16:15
Where: SWCAC L2 Member Space.
[📍Pro-Tips ]
Book Ahead: For Art Walks and Open Studios, scan the WeChat mini-program "AWSZ 深圳艺术周". Slots disappear fast!
Focus on Shekou: If you’re short on time, head to Sea World (SWCAC). It’s the highest density of top-tier shows and talks.
Spring is here, and so is the art! 🌸
With over 220 events happening across the 3rd Art Week Shenzhen, there’s bound to be something that speaks to your creative soul.
Tag your favorite "Art Buddy" and let’s explore the city’s hidden gems together. Let’s walk side-by-side with art and start this "glowing journey" through the heart of Shenzhen! ✨
Paloma
