More than 100 pieces of abstract art are shown, including many from Shenzhen-based artists.

Shenzhen is a city that advocates art. The city is home to several national-level exhibition brands of fine arts and photography. In late September, The Reconstruction of Space - the First Shenzhen Abstract Art Exhibition was held in the Luohu Art Museum to mark the 40th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.

More than 100 pieces of abstract art were shown, including many from Shenzhen-based artists.

A seminar on abstract art was also held on Oct. 10 as part of the exhibition. Experts attending the seminar discussed the relationship between abstract art and the development of city, concluding that abstract art can flourish in immigrant cities like Shenzhen.

Yu Yanfeng, director of the Luohu Art Museum, said: "The exhibition was a success and there was an endless stream of visitors, particularly during the National Day holiday."

"The success of the exhibition has consolidated our confidence to organize more abstract art shows in the future," Yu added.

Chen Xiangbing, a professor of art studies at Shenzhen University, said the theme of the exhibition fits well into Shenzhen's practical conditions as an emerging city. This is because the city's culture has been accumulated and constructed from many different cultures.

Ren Tanping, director of the National Contemporary Art Center of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, said that the exhibition demonstrated that some young artists have formed their own unique characteristics, encouraging people to embrace abstract art.

Ren said that despite abstract art remaining on the margins of China's contemporary arts, there should be more in-depth research on it and theoretical breakthroughs on its future development.

Meng Luding, a professor of oil painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, said Shenzhen is the vanguard of reform and opening-up, and its vitality coincides with that of the abstract art, which was born only about 100 years ago.

He hoped Shenzhen could continue to hold such exhibitions in the future and promote the coordinated development of its urban culture and artistic ecology.

Shang Hui, chief editor and publisher of Art magazine, thinks that Shenzhen has realized its purpose of holding the exhibition as it has done a good job in organizing such a successful show with international vision.

Experts said Shenzhen should become more inclusive to foreign cultures, and develop its new cultural productivity so as to inject new vitality to the city and China's fine art.

Zhong Xi, a professor of arts at Shenzhen University, hoped that the Luohu Art Museum can develop the exhibition into a biennial or triennial event.

Shang Hui said that Shenzhen has been quick to absorb important cultural genes from around the country and the world. The combination of these cultures is an explosive power, but requires an ignition point. "I hope the exhibition of abstract art in Luohu can serve as that point," Shang said.