China-Italy artists exchange kicks off in Shekou with food, fashion, sci-fi

Video by Liu Xudong

The north wing of Baoneng All City mall in Shekou was transformed Saturday afternoon as the Chinese/Italian Artists Exchange Program kicked off with a celebration of food, fashion, illustration, sports, and science fiction.Francesco Ruzzier (L), the organizational director of the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival, joins Francesco Verso (2nd L), a three-time Urania Award winner, for a sharing session during the Chinese/Italian Artists Exchange Program held at the Baoneng All City mall in Shekou on Saturday. Photos by Liu Xudong

Hosted by the Nanshan District Foreign Affairs Bureau and the Shekou Subdistrict Office, the sci-fi and fantasy-themed exchange program aimed to create an immersive cultural experience and bring Chinese and Italian creativity into lively conversation.

The north wing of Baoneng All City mall in Shekou is fully adorned for the launch of the Chinese-Italian Artists Exchange Program on Saturday.

The program opened with a fashion show by Shenzhen-based label HUI, its models gliding down the runway in garments that blended Chinese and Italian design elements.

Models showcase HUI fashion on the runway at Baoneng All City mall in Shekou, blending Chinese and Italian design elements.

Sci-fi and illustration were also a major focus. Francesco Verso, a leading figure in contemporary Italian sci-fi and a three-time recipient of Italy’s top sci-fi prize, the Urania Award, discussed his eight years of friendship with China’s sci-fi community. “I have always believed that science fiction is the perfect language for cross-cultural exchange,” Verso said. “It lets us transcend borders and language to share hopes and concerns about technology and humanity’s future.”

Francesco Verso, a three-time recipient of Italy’s prestigious Urania Award, engages with participants during the event.

A live illustration session paired Italian artist Lorenzo Ala with Zhao Enzhe, the first Asian recipient of the Hugo Awards' Best Professional Artist. Ala produced a finely detailed drawing of a robot wearing hanfu, marrying Eastern clothing aesthetics with futuristic motifs. Zhao completed two spaceship sketches in just 10 minutes, his fluid lines and precise technique drawing rounds of applause from the crowd.

Zhao Enzhe (C), the first Asian recipient of the Hugo Awards for Best Professional Artist, and Italian artist Lorenzo Ala (R) interact with the audience during Saturday's cultural exchange. 

Italian artist Lorenzo Ala creates a live drawing during the event on Saturday.

In the mall’s north wing, the Italian Lifestyle Experience Zone featured booths serving a tempting antipasto platter — Parmesan’s creamy depth, the robust flavor of salami, and the distinctive tang of blue cheese — balanced by crisp soda crackers and colorful pepper strips. Hand-crafted gelato, silky and richly textured, offered visitors a literal taste of the Apennine Peninsula’s culinary traditions.

Brazilian volunteer Eledir Busanello (R) serves food to visitors at the Italian Lifestyle Experience Zone during the Chinese/Italian Artists Exchange Program that kicked off at the Baoneng All City mall in Shekou on Saturday.

The Italian-style football zone in the sunken plaza also drew steady crowds. Italian coaches taught passing, shooting, and ball-control techniques, offering demonstrations and hands-on drills. “We rarely get a chance to experience professional Italian coaching,” said a local father surnamed Li, who attended with his child. “Today was wonderful, my kid had a great time.”

Children take part in a hands-on football drill at the Italian-style football zone in the sunken plaza, guided by professional coaches.

Participants of different ages and nationalities spent the afternoon sampling Italian flavors, watching runway art, enjoying live illustration, and learning football skills, creating a portrait of the ongoing cultural dialogue between China and Italy. Organizers said the series, which will continue through early December, aims to deepen creative ties and build long-term international exchanges in the region.

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Photos by Liu Xudong and Lin Songtao