Creative industry centers-hubs for design, painting, art glass, metalwork-are springing up around the city in remodeled and now very chic warehouses and factories, writes Wang Jie.

A piece of Beijing opera mask made out of bicycle parts.[Photo by online.sh.cn]

As a part of the Shanghai Creative Industry Week, a photo exhibition of booming creative industry centers is running at X-bridge, a new artsy hub in Hongqiao area.

The show covers 23 creative industry centers, including Taikang Road, an art street, Bridge 8 on Jianguo Road and Creative Garden on Longhua Road.

Most are in abandoned warehouses or dilapidated factories, but an infusion of decorative style has made the rundown buildings chic and filled them with energy.

For example, the new X-bridge situated in the narrow lanes of a shopping street on Hongxu Road, is a hub containing a design studio, furniture shop, art glass boutique, bar and restaurant. It used to be a fabric factory.

Perhaps that's the essence of creative industry - finding something different that has been ignored and seeing its potential to be interesting and chic.

Another cluster of shows is running at the Creative Garden 2577, including Zhou Kang's photo show, Yan Youren's sculpture exhibit and Lu Jiren's watercolor painting exhibition.

"I guess it is almost impossible for one to see nearly 10 exhibitions at one time at one venue," says Weng Biao, who is in charge of the Creative Garden. "But here, visitors can slow down and appreciate various art genres."

At the entrance to one warehouse, visitors will bump into several bronze figures of human proportions by Yan.

The statues are titled "A Scene from the Bus Station."

"We are displaying these exhibits to attract people in the creative industry, in hopes they will join us," says Weng.

He says the price of rental space is "fairly reasonable" and the space is equipped for professional use.

Yes, a creative shell needs some fresh blood for the new emerging industry in town.

X Bridge
Date: through November 30, 10am-4pm
Address: 731 Hongxu Rd
Tel: 021-64051737

Creative Garden
Date: through November 30, 10am-5pm
Address: 2577 Longhua Rd
Tel: 021-64681436