Exhibition explores design across cultures

The He Xiangning Art Museum is hosting “Foreign Lands and Mother Tongue — The 8th Global Overseas Chinese Artists Exhibition.” This year, the exhibition series shifts its focus from fine art to design, bringing together 13 overseas Chinese artists and groups from Germany, France, Canada, the U.S., Malaysia, Uruguay and other regions.

Their works span typography, product design, graphic design, fashion design, architectural design, interior design, human-computer interaction design, and event visual identity design.

Visitors observe posters designed by Yang Yang at the “Foreign Lands and Mother Tongue — The 8th Global Overseas Chinese Artists Exhibition” at the He Xiangning Art Museum. Photos courtesy of the art museum unless otherwise stated

Visitors admire garments designed by Chinese-American fashion designer Grace Chen.

Visitors observe posters designed by Qizhen Cai.

Cai Xianliang, director of the He Xiangning Art Museum, said that the exhibition series is an annual academic project dedicated to outstanding overseas Chinese artists and artists of Chinese descent. It has been held at the art museum since 2020.

This year’s exhibition explores how overseas Chinese creators bring their distinctive aesthetic perspectives and artistic expressions to life as they move between cultures.

Over the years, Cai said, the museum has invited nearly 100 artists from more than 30 countries and regions, organized expert seminars and established a digital database of the artists. Going forward, it will expand into more artistic fields and further deepen cultural exchange.

“Over and Above,” a brand identity design by Jwohan Lim for a café and bar in George Town, Penang, Malaysia.

Design works by Qingyi Yuan, who lives and works in Paris, France.

“Uruguay Land of Water_Biennale Venezia,” created by Sei Fong Studio, explores Uruguay’s hydrological landscape and its relationship with architectural culture. The work was exhibited at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2025.

Wang Xiaosong, executive director of the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art and one of the exhibition’s curators, noted that although the exhibition is modest in scale, it touches on many aspects of daily life. Through design, it tells stories of how Chinese people understand themselves and the world around them.

The curators hope the exhibition will show more than the balance between aesthetics and function. It also seeks to reveal how designers navigate between cultures — and how that shapes their work.

Visitors view designs by Jumping He, who is based in Berlin, Germany. Photos by Cao Zhen

“Asian Night Market: Chinatown Festival,” a visual identity design by Le Lin, who lives and works in Canada. Photo by Cao Zhen

The exhibition also features works by four artists of Chinese descent from the Netherlands, the U.S. and Canada who participated in the Second Residency Program for Young Overseas Chinese Artists. During the program, the artists were based in Nantou Ancient Town in Shenzhen and visited several cities in Guangdong in July and August.

Photographs of early Chinese immigrants to the Netherlands are on display. Netherlands-based visual artist Yanxian Zhao conducted research in historical villages in Yantian and Dapeng, Shenzhen, tracing the life stories and clan roots of these immigrants. Photo by Cao Zhen

Dates: Through Dec. 6

Venue: He Xiangning Art Museum, Nanshan District (何香凝美术馆)

Metro: Line 1 to OCT Station (华侨城站), Exit C