A major art exhibition has opened in Foshan's Xiqiao Town, inviting global artists to explore what "home" means today. The "Home in Hearts: Xu Qinsong Creative Award Exhibition" at Youwei Gallery features over 100 works by young creators from 14 countries. The exhibition, launched on August 16, will run through October 8, 2025.
The display includes traditional Chinese ink paintings alongside modern installations and sculptures. Many works reflect contemporary concerns about displacement and identity during uncertain times. Gold medal winner Zhang Fansheng noted the theme feels timely: "Everyone has a physical hometown," he said, "but true peace comes from finding our spiritual roots – that journey takes a lifetime."
The exhibition grapples with four core themes: how migration reshapes our connection to place, the complex role of family bonds in identity formation, the journey toward belonging through self-discovery, and humanity's enduring search for spiritual meaning. Visitors can experience this free showcase alongside Xiqiao's new evening program featuring lakeside markets and open-air cinema screenings.
Youwei Gallery (有为馆) itself signals Xiqiao's cultural ambitions. The 48,000-square-meter venue has hosted 45 events since opening last year. It now permanently houses the "Art Field Nanhai Guangdong" headquarters. Xu Qinsong, who met his wife in Xiqiao decades ago, praised the local vision: "Nanhai understands culture. We'll keep creating meaningful work here."
Background: Founded by Xu Qinsong in 2009 at his alma mater, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, the Xu Qinsong Creative Award has grown from a local scholarship into an internationally recognized platform. To date, it has distributed ￥10.37 million ($1.4M) to 2,154 emerging artists across 137 universities worldwide. This year's record international submissions signal its rising influence amid China's push to position the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as an arts hub.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Nanfang Plus Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
