Parisian walkways

Artist Zhao chose bamboo as the raw material for his installation.

"It may look like scaffolding from distance, but it is actually a waterfall built using the most representative element of Chengdu, the bamboo. We brought 700 bamboo poles from China," Zhao explains. The entire installation was set up after they arrived in Paris, he added.

Zhao's piece is called Grand Waterfall. In addition to the 700 bamboo poles, a curtain, and flowing water, the piece brings to life a striking traditional Chinese freestyle landscape painting right in front of the centuries-old Saint-Germain-des-Pres Cathedral. With his installation, Zhao Mi showcases the inclusiveness and evolution of Chengdu city by creating harmony between a western style and a traditional oriental culture.

Chen Weicai, another artist from Sichuan, built his work Palace using Chinese gray tile. Inspired by the architecture of the ancient town of Luodai in Chengdu, Chen creates a semi-private space fitting the context and layout of Place Furstenberg, Saint-Germain-des-Pres. It's a unique beauty crafted by letting the curved structure be surrounded by the trees around the plaza.

"The gray tiles are building materials that are unique to China. Therefore, when the installation is built in the Western architectural complex, it can create a sense of conflict," Chen explains, "in the meantime, the semi-transparency blends in with the surroundings."