Putuo District Cultural Center New Year Exhibition: “The Fusion of Time and Light” Landscape Photography Exhibition Opens
The “Half-Marathon Su River” section focuses on the scenery along the Putuo section of the Suzhou Creek. It includes the tranquility of the Changfeng Park pier under the glow of the setting sun, with the Suzhou Creek flowing like a “quiet mooring”; the twin towers of the Global Harbor reflected in the waters of the Su River, sketching a “phantom”-like urban reflection; and the radiant TOP Central Park and TOP Innovation & Industry City Complex glowing in the night, painting the skyline of Taopu’s development. An exhibiting creator shared the creative story behind their work “Dragon Boats Dancing Together.” The work captures the intense atmosphere of a dragon boat race from the perspective of spectators cheering, “The shouts and excitement of that moment were exactly what I wanted to freeze in time.”
The “Landscape Art” section takes the audience on a journey across the country’s mountains and rivers. Using their lenses as their eyes, photographers capture natural scenes where grandeur and serenity coexist—from the vast sea of clouds over snowy plateaus to the misty painted bridges of southern water towns; from the majestic expanse of desert winds to the poetic countryside of layered terraced fields, presenting a visual journey that traverses seasons and landscapes.
The “Beauty of Creativity” section showcases photographers’ explorations in form and concept. Through techniques such as multiple exposures, digital collage, and abstract composition, they break through the limitations of reality to conduct visual experiments. For example, one work, “Bountiful Harvest,” uses the colorful world of an M&M’s store as a backdrop, with withered branches in the foreground playfully contrasting with the candy decorations behind, creating an imaginative scene.
These exhibiting creators have adhered to their original aspiration of “chasing light and shadow,” persisting in their creative work for over a decade. To capture moving moments, they have waited for the first rays of dawn by the Suzhou Creek in the morning mist and have frozen the last traces of twilight in old streets as night fell. Their works transcend age and profession, collectively conveying a persistent pursuit of beauty.
Exhibition Address: City Creative Space, 1st Floor, Putuo District Cultural Center (138 Lanxi Road)
Exhibition Period: From January 8, 2026 to February 1, 2026, 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays)
The exhibition is free and open to the public until February 1st.
Putuo District Cultural Center
The Putuo District Cultural Center is a modern public cultural facility located in Shanghai’s Putuo District, which opened in 2010. It serves as a central hub for community arts, offering exhibition spaces, performance halls, and educational programs. While the center itself is a contemporary institution, Putuo District has a rich historical background, notably as the site of the former Shanghai Cotton Mill and other industrial heritage from the early 20th century.
Suzhou Creek
Suzhou Creek is a historically significant waterway flowing through Shanghai, originally serving as a vital transport route during the city’s early industrialization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Once heavily polluted, it underwent a major environmental restoration in the 1990s and 2000s, transforming its banks into a popular public space with parks, art districts, and renovated historical buildings. Today, it stands as a symbol of Shanghai’s urban renewal, blending its industrial past with modern recreational and cultural life.
Changfeng Park
Changfeng Park is a large public park located in Shanghai, China, which opened to the public in 1959. It was originally built on reclaimed land from a former swamp and is notable for its expansive Silver Lake, which is a popular spot for boating. The park is designed around the theme of a “lake and forest” and is a key example of modern Chinese urban green space planning from the mid-20th century.
Global Harbor
Global Harbor is a large shopping and entertainment complex located in Shanghai, China, which opened in 2013. It is known for its distinctive architecture, including a massive wave-like roof, and features a vast array of retail stores, restaurants, and an IMAX theater. While it does not have a deep historical legacy, it represents the rapid modern commercial development of Shanghai’s Putuo District in the 21st century.
TOP Central Park
TOP Innovation & Industry City Complex
The TOP Innovation & Industry City Complex is a modern, large-scale development project in China, typically designed as a hub for technology, research, and advanced manufacturing. While specific histories vary by location, such complexes are generally part of recent national or regional initiatives, like “Made in China 2025,” aimed at accelerating economic transformation through innovation and industrial upgrading. They serve as integrated zones combining corporate offices, R&D facilities, and production spaces to foster collaboration and high-tech growth.
Taopu
Taopu is a town located in the Putuo District of Shanghai, China, historically known as an industrial area. In recent decades, it has been transformed into a major hub for technology and innovation, notably as part of the Shanghai Caohejing Hi-Tech Park development. Today, it symbolizes Shanghai’s shift from traditional manufacturing to a modern, knowledge-based economy.
City Creative Space
“City Creative Space” is a contemporary cultural hub, often found in urban areas, that repurposes former industrial or commercial buildings into open studios, galleries, and workshops for artists and makers. Its history is typically rooted in early 21st-century urban renewal movements, aiming to revitalize neighborhoods by providing affordable workspace and fostering a collaborative creative community. These spaces serve as vital platforms for local art, innovation, and public engagement with the arts.
