Li Hao

    A CLAY buffalo with a bamboo tail, lampshade trees of a combination of sand and bamboo — all eye-catching and creative works, are on display at the Shenzhen Citizen’s Plaza.

    It’s all part of the 2009 Shenzhen Hong Kong Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture. A selection of art installations have been set up across the city instead of being restricted to an enclosed museum-style exhibition, turning the whole city into an open museum.

    Approximately 60 artists and architects from around the world will demonstrate their newly created works at three venues from Dec. 6 to Jan. 23.

    The exhibition features six themes: In the South, Losing the Countryside, City-Building Fever, Back to the Streets, The Amusement Park and Future City State.

    Free taxis from six cities will operate near the Citizen’s Plaza. Eleven taxi drivers will relate stories of their own cities to passengers over the six days.

    Initiated by Dutch journalist Michile Hulshof and architect Daan Roggeveen, the works are part of Go West Project, which focuses on newly-developed cities in central and western China.

    “We hope these taxis become mobile exhibitions with taxi drivers sharing stories of their cities because taxi drives know more about the cities they live in,” said Hulshof.

    Designed by Zhu Pei in collaboration with ARUP and installed in the Citizen’s Plaza, “Urban Oasis” is a pavilion constructed of woven bamboo to create a spiral shell inspired by traditional Chinese philosophical concepts of balance and harmony with nature, where people can be refreshed and regain energy.

    The general public are inspired to appreciate the urban focus of these works and think about the relationship between urban architects and city life.

    “The 2009 SZHKB has been organized around the theme of “City Mobilization.” The aim is to test the possibility of large-scale, effective social mobilization in a time that lacks centralized force, spiritual solidarity and practical organization,” said Ou Ning, chief curator of this year’s exhibition.

    “We also aimed to mobilize urban designers and architects to reconsider their social identities and professional roles as well as mobilize artists, authors, musicians, filmmakers, thinkers, social activists, politicians and citizens to offer their intellectual support,” Ou said.