Wei Jie claudiamente@hotmail.com A POSTER-SIZED image of the Hollywood superhero Iron Man drew a large crowd at the Wanxia Nature One center in Shekou on Saturday afternoon, marking the official opening of the “To the Future: Chinese/French Sci-Fi and Fantasy Exhibition.” Many local Marvel fans were surprised to learn that the image was designed by French concept artist Aleksi Briclot, a name unfamiliar to many. Since joining Marvel Studio’s visual design team in 2016, Briclot has contributed to iconic films like “Ant Man and the Wasp,” “Captain Marvel,” and “Thor: Ragnarok.” Art exhibition Briclot was among the French artists and illustrators invited to this year’s Chinese/French Artists Exchange Program. The event, in its third edition, is organized by the Nanshan District Government and co-hosted by the Nanshan District Foreign Affairs Office and the Shekou Subdistrict Office. Although Briclot didn’t make it to the opening ceremony at the Wanxia center Saturday afternoon, the exhibition was packed with enthusiastic visitors appreciating science fiction art by both French and Chinese artists. Visiting French artists Gilles Francescano and Nicolas Petrimaux, as well as Chinese artists Zhao Enzhe and Xiao Zhuangyue, led visitors on a tour of the exhibition. They shared their creative process and insights from their exhibited works. The exhibition covers a diverse range of sci-fi themes, including deep-sea exploration, artificial intelligence, aviation, and aerospace. Francescano praised the program as a successful platform for cultural exchange between Chinese and French artists during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony. He also emphasized the significance of understanding and celebrating the connections between individuals from different cultural backgrounds. During an exclusive interview with Shenzhen Daily on the sidelines of the opening ceremony, Francescano said that he hopes to invite Chinese artists to France to showcase their work. He also underscored the value of cultural exchanges and cross-border artistic collaborations. Francescano spoke highly of the program’s organization and warm reception, saying, “I know that I will take many photos to show people back in France how things are done here in Shenzhen.” Cross-cultural dialogue Despite overcast weather and occasional showers Sunday, local Marvel fans and enthusiasts of sci-fi and fantasy gathered at Nantou Ancient Town for an inspiring event called “A Date in Ancient City: An Artistic Conversation from the Marvel Universe to The Wandering Earth.” Chinese and French artists shared their design stories and insights on sci-fi and fantasy art and engaged in an informative dialogue. French concept designer Petrimaux captivated animation enthusiasts by introducing narrative and storyboarding techniques used in comic creation, drawing from his own works and participation in various projects. With experience at video game and post-production studios such as Visiware, Wizarbox, and Dontnod Entertainment, he compared comic creation with film production. Zhao Enzhe, recipient of the Best Professional Artist award in Paris last year, expressed his appreciation of cultural exchange events in Shenzhen. According to Zhao, these platforms enable art to reach a wider audience and foster participation. “I had a discussion with the French artists, and one of the common points between us is that we all are very passionate about art,” said Zhao, adding that passion is the fundamental driver of creativity. Interactions with students As part of the exchange program, the artists visited two public schools and an international school in Nanshan District, where they shared their creative processes, stories, and drawing techniques with the students. During their visit to Shekou International School, Petrimaux told the students that illustration in the realm of science fiction often involves more than just drawing. He emphasized the role of young minds in creativity, which he believes thrive without the constraints of social conventions. A selection of artwork focusing on future themes and Sino-French friendship, created by students in Nanshan District, was displayed at the Wanxia Nature One center. The vibrant colors and imaginative concepts in these paintings garnered praise from visitors. Notably, a piece by 13-year-old QSI student Huang Tsingz, which depicted an extinct species of blue whale, secured the gold award at this year’s Forbes China 100 Teenage Artists competition in August. Other activities The artists also toured well-known enterprises, “innovation and entrepreneurship” parks, and creative cultural tourism destinations in Nanshan to learn about the district’s local cultural industry and innovative atmosphere. This year’s Chinese/French Artists Exchange Program coincided with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Initiated in Shekou in November 2018, the program has significantly enriched the vitality and artistic atmosphere of the Shekou international block. It has also facilitated the signing of a friendly cooperation memorandum between the French city of Nantes and Shenzhen’s Nanshan District. Chinese/French Artists Exchange Program Season III — Activities 1. Chinese/French Sci-Fi and Fantasy Exhibition Add: First floor of the Wanxia Nature One center Dates: Nov. 16-25 2. French Lifestyle Experience Session Add: Exterior square of the Wanxia Nature One center Date: Nov. 16 3. Chinese/French SciFi and Fantasy Dialogue Salon Add: Nantou Ancient Town Date: Nov. 16 4. Chinese/French Artists on Campus A. Shekou International School Date: Nov. 19 B. Shenzhen OCT Primary School Date: Nov. 18 C. Shenzhen Nanshan Arts and Sciences Experimental School Date: Nov. 18 5. ‘Expats visit Nanshan’ tours Route 1: Discovery of “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” Path Date: Nov. 16 Route 2: Exploration of Creative Culture and Tourism Date: Nov. 17 | 