EYESHENZHEN  /   Photos

A 'time travel' into the past and future at I-Factory

Writer: Cao Zhen  |  Editor: Zhang Chanwen  |  From: Shenzhen Daily  |  Updated: 2022-08-24

A scene from Hu Shuai’s “Metagenesis” at “The Siløs Metaverse” exhibition at I-Factory in Nanshan District. Photos by Sun Yuchen, Lin Songtao

The vertical silos of the former Guangdong Float Glass Factory in Shekou in Nanshan District offer a unique, otherworldly space and the repurposing breathes new life into the aging behemoth. The factory has now been transformed into an exhibition and event space called I-Factory, where two exhibitions, touching upon issues in the past and the future, are being held.

Visitors take photos at “The Siløs Metaverse” exhibition.

Visitors admire a multimedia work created by Y&Z at “The Siløs Metaverse” exhibition.

More than 60 artists are presenting digital artworks to create a futuristic world at “The Siløs Metaverse” exhibition. In the videos, interactive installations and immersive projections, visitors seem to wander in parallel worlds. Stepping up on the spiral stairs while being immersed in the video projections on the walls is an amazing experience. At 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. every night from Tuesday to Sunday, 3D projection mapping shows onto the silo façades give you the feeling of being in a punk party.

Zhu Jianchen’s “TranSenLightoWer” is projected on the spiral stairs, the walls and the floor at “The Siløs Metaverse.”

Departing from the “future world,” you can “time-travel” to the past. An exhibition featuring movable type, traditional Chinese paper making and Chinese characters tells the stories of the centuries-old printing and paper-making techniques. Visitors can not only admire movable type craft and appreciate creative Chinese character-inspired designs, but also try their hands at printing with movable type. More interactive games on Chinese characters encourage visitors to be a traditional Chinese culture inheritor.

Children experience movable type printing technology at the exhibition featuring movable type, traditional Chinese paper making and Chinese characters.


A craftsman is operating a type casting machine which is used in printing.

Children experience movable type printing technology at the exhibition featuring movable type, traditional Chinese paper making and Chinese characters.

Chinese character-inspired design works are on display.

Children play with components used in movable type printing.

The movable type exhibition is free and ends Aug. 30. “The Siløs Metaverse” runs until March 31, 2023; a standard ticket is 188 yuan with various concessions offered.

A craftsman is operating a type casting machine which is used in printing.

Children play with components used in movable type printing.

Chinese papers on display.