Shanghai charm brought to Vienna through cartoon exhibition

The "Charming Shanghai" promotional campaign partnered with renowned comic artist Lin Dihuan to present the "Waiting for a Flower to Bloom" exhibition in the Austrian capital on Friday local time, sharing the development and urban charm of Shanghai.

"This is the first time a Chinese comic artist has exhibited in Vienna, and we hope it fosters more cultural exchanges between our cities," said Alexander Nikolai, district leader of Leopoldstadt, Vienna, during the opening ceremony.

A total of 150 illustrations on display captured the poetic philosophy and urban emotions inherent to Shanghai's cosmopolitan spirit and more through Lin's Chinese painting style. The showcase also highlighted Lin's depictions of iconic Shanghai streets like the Huaihai Road.

In addition to the comic panels, 30 music prism installations allowed visitors to experience Lin's tales through synchronized visuals and audio.

It's the first time that a Chinese comic art show in Europe has combined comics, installations and music, said Martin Krott, the exhibition curator and a Sinologist. "We thank Shanghai for bringing Chinese culture to European citizens."

"As one of the birthplaces of Chinese comics that produced many influential masters and classic works, Shanghai drew me in with its inclusive atmosphere of people working tirelessly by day while pursuing dreams at night - fueling my passion for creativity," said Lin.

German publisher Drachenhaus-Verlag will introduce more of Lin's comics to the German-speaking world, and the German edition of Lin's comics as calendars was debuted during the opening ceremony.

The "Charming Shanghai" campaign will be followed by other thematic events in Luxembourg and France this month.