New gallery and exhibition debut in Shenzhen

L-Art Gallery opened its Shenzhen space on Nov. 9, located on the second floor of the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning in Futian District. Numerous guests from the art circle, scholars, and members of the media attended the opening.

In his speech, Li Guohua, general manager of L-Art Gallery’s Shenzhen space, reviewed the gallery’s 10-year development since its beginnings in Chengdu and outlined the Shenzhen location’s positioning and vision: “L-Art Gallery will dedicate itself to promoting diverse expressions of contemporary art, focusing on the international narrative of Chinese values, and creating a platform for dialogue and exchange in contemporary art.”

Lyu Peng, chief academic advisor of L-Art Gallery, noted that in an era of uncertainty art still holds irreplaceable spiritual value and social significance. “L-Art Gallery plans to open spaces in multiple major cities worldwide, firmly promote Chinese artists on the international stage, and continue to expand the global influence of contemporary Chinese art,” he said.

Artist Zhang Zhaoying poses for a photo in front of his work. Photos by Chang Zhipeng

L-Art Gallery’s inaugural exhibition, Lifelong Picture by Zhang Zhaoying, opened at the event, showcasing a collection of the artist’s recent works, including the “Oriental Tales” series, which uniquely incorporates cinematic elements through appropriation, collage, and theatrical staging. 

Zhang juxtaposes heterogeneous elements — classical paintings, consumer symbols, film stills, and fragments of art history — within the same frame. This approach not only exposes the proliferation of desire-driven imagery and the erosion of historical depth in the spectacle society, but also constructs an alternative spatial field — a “heterotopian theater” — filled with absurdity and reflection.

Audiences visit Zhang's solo exhibition in L-Art Gallery.

Gan Ting, curator of the exhibition, explained the theme, Lifelong Picture. The word “lifelong” continues Zhang’s earlier series — solo shows such as “Lifelong Learning” and “Lifelong Beauty” — emphasizing a continuity in personal history. The term “Picture” refers both to Zhang’s recent appropriation of cinematic elements and to his method: using an abundance of images to mirror and allude to the spectacle of contemporary social reality.

“In my work I used many public images to evoke people’s memories. I see the artist’s role as opening a way in — inviting viewers to bring their own experiences to interpret the work and, ultimately, find themselves,” Zhang said.

Visitors admire the exhibits at L-Art Gallery.

Rooted in the longstanding academic foundation and professional framework of L-Art Group, L-Art Gallery is an emerging art space with locations in Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Shanghai, and plans to expand to New York. The gallery focuses on discovering, promoting, and representing artists of strong potential and academic value, providing intellectually rich platforms for exhibition and dialogue, and encouraging diverse expressions and cross-disciplinary exploration in contemporary art.

The exhibition runs through Jan. 15, 2026, and is free of charge.

More photos:

Art works are on display at the L-Art Gallery.