"The Guardians"
"Anooki"Photos courtesy of WeChat account "ShenzhenLOOK"
The "De-light" installation set against the backdrop of the China Resources Headquarters Building.
FOR those who want to experience the city's energy after dark, downtown Nanshan is the place to be. Running until March next year, the "Glow Nanshan" light festival brings together more than 50 illuminated art installations from artists and studios around the world.
Along the Shenzhen Bay, natural landscapes like the sea and man-made landmarks like skyscrapers have been transformed into vessels of dazzling light, inviting citizens to discover the beauty and meaning behind these unique works. Here are some of the most recommended spectacles at the festival's main venues, Shenzhen Bay Avenue and Shenzhen Talent Park.
'De-light'
Having debuted at the Shanghai International Light Festival, this piece features 56 bright red, star-shaped LED modules, representing the 56 ethnic groups of China.
'Isle of Light'
This installation projects a shape-shifting island of light onto the sea surface. The lights shift between red, gold and silver resembling a torch and a shell-shaped screen, paying tribute to 45 years of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone's glory.
'Cosmobloom'
Created by Heyl & Van Dam Studiol, "Cosmobloom" consists of eight kinetic blossoms originally made for the stage of psychedelic rock band Crumb. This is the ethereal kinetic sculpture's first time meeting a local audience. In harmonic motion, it reflects light and color while transitioning between closed, secure states and open, vulnerable ones. It is constructed from layers of mirror-polished stainless steel fastened to an array of exquisite mechanical linkages.
'Anooki'
The Anooki are two illuminated inflatable snowmen inspired by the Inuit people, here to remind us of our planet's fragility and climate change. These funny, astounding giant statues have sneaked into our city. Like a pair of urban explorers, they transform large squares and building facades into amusing play areas.
'Creatures: First Impression'
Co-created by SKG Plus and Epson, this digital projection art installation uses light and shadow to paint on building facades, rendering a warm, colorful, and lovely world from the perspective of an innocent child.
'Ride Until the Star Rises'
Created by young artist Chai Haoran and his team, this program-driven, interactive mechanical installation features a merry-go-round-style device where visitors can pedal wheels to lift star-shaped lamps.
'Seeker of Light'
Created by Li Sijia, a student at the Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, this installation features many illuminated stick figures sitting before desktops made of mirrors. The piece pays tribute to the city's millions of hard-working white-collar workers.
'The Guardians'
Created by Matthew Aberline and The Beautiful & Useful Studio, this immersive artwork consists of 16 large, monolithic-like inflatables that celebrate Australian wildflowers and animals in their design. Previously displayed at iLight Singapore, it invites visitors to discover the beauty of natural Australia through these massive forms, colors, and patterns.
At night, the beacons are illuminated from within, with some featuring changing lights that kinetically engage with audiences. The artwork depicts flora from across Australia, including the silvery blue tones of alpine ghost gums, hardy desert shrubs, burnt red flowers like the Sturt Desert Pea, and tropical flowers and foliage. The installation predominantly uses red and orange tones, punctuated with teal and sky blue. It was created using a combination of traditional hand-rendered techniques and cutting-edge digital technology.
Dates: Until March 3, 2026
Main venue: Shenzhen Bay Avenue, Nanshan District (南山区深圳湾大街)
Metro: Line 2, 11 or 13 to Houhai Station (后海站), Exit E(Li Dan)
