Heart of the matter

Falling Cat, a painting by US artist Austin Lee. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The living conditions aren't perfect in Gannan, with limited daily resources and the lack of entertainment options.

Yang relies a lot on her smartphone for drawing after she found out about software she can use to create her new worlds, especially in red, yellow, blue, green and white－the colors representing the elements fire, land, water, wind and the sky. These five colors are found in prayer banners that flutter in Gannan and other places where Buddhism is popular.

"It's not important for the audience to see my drawings, the important thing is to make them sit down and spend a minute to think about how I made them, and then they must be connected to my art," Yang says.

"We should pay more attention to our hearts, and it's the aim of the exhibition to activate the emotions inside us."

Another eye-catching installation on display is Dominae Illud Opus Populare by British artist Ryan Gander.

With the technology of facial recognition and motion sensor, a pair of animatronic eyes is replying to people's facial expressions with emotions including surprise, anger, curiosity and concern.

The relation between artworks and audiences is overturned－the observers are now observed by the artwork, the artist explains.

Xu Haoyu contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at xingyi@chinadaily.com.cn

If you go

10:30 am-6 pm, through Oct 8, Mondays closed. D-06, 798 Art Zone, 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 1881-1525-835.