Visitors attend the opening of the Shanghai exhibition. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The epidemic has also inspired artists to work on the connections between humans and nature, as well as the interactions between individuals in the global practice of social distancing, she says.

Bodies of Water will first be presented online from November until next May, when it will be shown at the PSA.

"We are working with programmers to explore all kinds of online expressions," Gong says. "There are many unknown possibilities, and it will be lots of fun."

Contact the writer at zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn

If you go

Shanghai Waves: Historical Archives and Works of Shanghai Biennale

11 am-7 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, July 31 to Nov 15. Power Station of Art, 678 Miaojiang Road, Huangpu district, Shanghai. 021-3110-8550.