Public space is new frontier

Gao says over the years, he has been thinking about what kind of art the academy is promoting, and it should be the kind of art that can integrate into people's everyday lives, and make a difference in social development.

"From these projects, we can see that art and design have gone through substantial changes. It might have begun with the design of a single building, or the utilization of a new material, but they have vitalized a village, or boosted the development of a regional industry," Gao says. "What is more important is that they empower locals to have the courage and ability to change their own lives for the better."

Following last year's exhibition Close-up: 100 Moments for a Better China, this year's exhibition selects 100 projects from more than 300. An online archive has also been established, through which viewers can learn about the projects, based on region, category or their features.

The exhibition runs through to March 27, and a series of forums are being hosted, inviting experts to discuss topics such as the environment and ecology, folk art rejuvenation and public art education.