A visitor admires “Self-Chiming House No. 2” at University Town.
“Modern Lady” on display at Sea World in Shekou.
“Speculative Surface” on display at University Town.
“Reclining Rose” on display at Taizi Bay.
As the year turns, Shenzhen’s urban corners are coming alive with public art again. The seventh Shenzhen Bay Public Art Season has arrived, spreading across three linked exhibition zones for the first time — University Town, Shekou and Taizi Bay — and presenting 23 large outdoor installations, sculptures and design works. Unlike previous editions that focused on parks and green spaces, this year’s season deliberately pushes public art into places where people live, study and shop. Campus lawns, seaside promenades, cultural centers and retail frontages become stages — the city itself a natural gallery. The three themed zones each offer a different perspective on Shenzhen’s culture, history and aspirations. University Town Under the title “Dimension Without Bounds,” 11 works are installed along the Dasha River and across campus, opening the universities’ “walls” to the public and celebrating experimentation and the spirit of learning. Highlights include: “Dancing House”: Three colorful, swaying house forms on the lawn that evoke childhood play and a liberated, imaginative mindset within the rational university setting. “The Curvature of Gaze”: A hybrid of eyeglass frames and a tennis racket symbolizing intellectual inquiry and bodily vigor, reminding viewers of the joy that can be found in both study and sport. “The Back-to-Facing”: Sited at a library entrance, this paradoxical four-person/two-brain structure explores the intertwined nature of facing and turning away, mirroring the complex relations between people. “Self-Chiming House No. 2”: A clock transformed into architectural scale, it links everyday objects with building forms and reflects communal explorations of technology and spatial experience. “Speculative Surface”: A three-part installation of mirrors and undulating terrain that dialogues with the nearby Tanglang Mountain, prompting reflective thought about past and future. Venue: University Town Exhibition dates: Until April 19 Metro: Line 5 to University Town Station (大学城站) Shekou Rooted in Shekou’s role in Shenzhen’s reform and opening history, “The New Current” places eight major outdoor works around the neighborhood, turning chance encounters into moments of civic memory and participation. Highlights include: “Light House”: A minimalist house frame lit at night, open to passersby and symbolizing Shenzhen’s welcoming, inclusive spirit; its glowing windows frame the city’s sea-and-mountain scenery. “Tao Tian”: An interplay of resilient silk and tidal imagery, this layered, colorful piece references both the physical ebb and flow of the bay and the transformative history of Shenzhen. “City of Tomorrow — Gate”: A gilded gateway carved with city landmarks and bay outlines; walking through it metaphorically takes visitors through Shenzhen’s urban development and the Greater Bay Area’s collaborative future. “Time”: The artist repeatedly writes the word “time” with a brush on heated stone so that each stroke vaporizes; displayed on public screens, the work stages a dialogue about the city’s emphasis on time and efficiency. Venues: Sea World Culture and Arts Center, Sea World, Shekou Net Valley, Nanhai E-Cool, Taizi Bay Garden City Villa, Taizi Bay Coastal Park, Shekou Cruise Homeport Exhibition dates: Until April 16 Taizi Bay The Taizi Bay zone gathers whimsical and contemplative works that invite reflection on life by the sea and the relationship between people, nature and urban life. Highlights include: “Reclining Rose”: A cast-lead rose lying on the lawn that meditates on transience, love and the value of fleeting encounters. “Time III”: The latest in a series featuring “Xiao Pi,” a playful black-faced spoonbill character wearing a baseball cap and surfboard, symbolizing joy, individuality and harmony with nature. “White Night Fairytale: Warm Bear · Summer Night”: A dreamy scene of a little girl cuddled in a giant bear’s embrace, designed as a charming, family-friendly fairy-tale rest stop. “Roly-Poly Series”: Three reinterpreted zodiac totems that rework traditional imagery through contemporary forms. Venue: K11 ECOAST seaside promenade Exhibition dates: Until March 30 Metro: Line 12 to Taizi Bay Station (太子湾站) (Photo: WeChat account “ShenzhenLOOK”)