Exhibition shines the spotlight on urbanism

In her two installations called I Love Heavy Metal, Beijing-based musician and artist Ai Jing interprets an Eastern philosophy that hardness can be complemented with softness in a harmonious way.

Two stainless steel poles that bear many carved-out inscriptions of the word "love" in an exhibition hall at the National Art Museum of China. They are part of an ongoing exhibition titled New Tale of the Orient that reflects how contemporary Asian artists inherit and develop tradition through various mediums of art.

"The word 'love' conveys a message of warmth while the stainless steel looks cold and tough," says Ai. "They feel so different but are able to achieve harmony and coexistence in the works."