A family is drawn to the totem poles. Photos by Lan Caiyou unless otherwise stated
A new exhibition opened on Friday at OCAT (OCT Contemporary Art Terminal) in Nanshan District, offering a window into less‑explored cultures.
"Another Face of the World — Masks, Sounds and Totems from the Global South" presents more than 100 art treasures that collector Yuan Jixin spent nearly 30 years gathering across more than 20 countries.
Yuan Jixin gives the audience a guided tour of the exhibition.
Bringing together century‑old masks, totems and other precious artifacts from Southeast Asia, Africa and Oceania, the exhibition paints a vivid portrait of life and culture in the Global South. Many pieces were acquired during field visits to remote tribal communities and are rare.
On the opening day, four musicians — Yi Chen, Yang Jian, Yu Lei and Mo Li — performed for visitors not only on their usual instruments but also on several displayed pieces, including an African cowhide drum. As the drumbeats rippled through the hall, the masks seemed to come alive.
Yi Chen performs in front of an area displaying Pakistani artifacts.
At the entrance, a palace gate, an arch and a traditional canoe make a striking first impression, as if inviting the audience to pass through a temporal portal into another world. The journey unfolds through four themed sections: "Totem Power," "Pavilions and Sounds," "Masks and Adornments," and "A Fluid Market."
The first section presents dozens of larger‑than‑life totem poles and ancestral figures that convey the spiritual authority and collective strength of the tribes they once guarded. Yuan, who provided all the exhibits, says it's a bit intimidating to enter his storage warehouse at night, with so many colossal figures "silently gazing into the darkness."
Visitors confer in front of the totem poles.
The second section shifts focus to diverse musical traditions. Exhibits such as goatskin hand drums and Burmese harps are displayed not only as artifacts but as instruments still played today. Interaction is encouraged, and children are especially drawn to this area.
The third section features a range of masks, necklaces and puppets, each telling a story about its culture and the bold imagination of its makers.
The final section offers visitors the chance to purchase selected items as keepsakes; it presents mainly furniture like cabinets and chairs that would add an exotic, artistic touch to a home.
The masks on display.
Driven by a keen interest in anthropology and respect for cultural diversity, Yuan spent nearly 30 years traveling from Papua New Guinea's Sepik River to West African villages to collect these pieces, documenting local customs and beliefs. He spent nearly all his personal savings to assemble the collection so the stories of lesser‑known groups could be seen and heard.
Running through Oct. 12 at OCAT Shenzhen, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience the raw beauty of human imagination and the diversity of cultures, and opens new perspectives for art‑historical study.
A poster for the exhibition. Courtesy of OCAT
Tickets: ¥89 per person; ¥139 for two; ¥169 for a family of up to four
Opening time: 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.
Dates: Until Oct. 12
Venue: Hall A, east of Building F2, OCT Loft, Nanshan District
Metro: Line 1 to Qiaocheng East Station (侨城东站), Exit A
