'Symbiosis' Art Installation Debuts at China Securities Museum

Chinese-German artist Ren Rong has launched his latest interactive art installation at the China Securities Museum.

The project is part of the "Meet the North Bund" International Artist Residency Program. It aims to connect Eastern and Western cultures through public participation.

The installation is titled "Symbiosis" and consists of six spherical sculptures. The spheres vary in size from 50 centimeters to 1 meter in diameter. They represent global economic interconnectedness and cultural exchange.

"Shanghai is a city I have been familiar with since childhood," Ren said. "We meet at the North Bund, but our minds look out at the world."

Ren used fragments of historical maps for the project. These include old maps of Shanghai, ancient Chinese maps, and global stock market documents. He also included traditional Chinese architectural patterns. Figures, eagles, and eyes decorate the spheres as personal artistic symbols.

Participants at the inaugural event tore, rearranged and pasted the paper materials onto the spheres. They brushed white paint over the layers in a repeating process. The central part of the largest sphere features old maps of the North Bund area. Visitors and residents can join the creation process until the end of June.

Ren has lived in Germany for 40 years and founded the Bonn Contemporary Art Museum. He said he plans to establish a branch museum in Shanghai to bring more European artists to China.

The event also featured a collaborative ceramic artwork. Ren worked with Xia Minglai, a local contemporary ceramic artist. They created a double-sided ceramic piece also named "Symbiosis."

Xia painted traditional Chinese brushwork on one side of the ceramic piece. Ren created contemporary designs on the other side. The artwork combines traditional Chinese techniques with modern Western colors and compositions.

"Ceramics carry thousands of years of Eastern culture," Xia said. "This cross-border dialogue allows traditional craftsmanship to gain new vitality through contemporary expression."

Organizers said the North Bund will continue to host international artists. The residency program plans to create more cross-border art dialogues to build a cultural bridge between China and the world.

If you go:

Date: Through June 30, Tuesdays-Sundays, 9:30am-4pm

Admission: Free

Venue: China Securities Museum

Address: 15 Huangpu Road, Hongkou District

虹口区黄浦路15号