Shenzhen Artist Village 2009

Where else can you find the Venus De Milo in the middle of a city of 18 million? It's not Paris, it's Shenzhen,China - I went to the Artists Village, and what an amazing place - literally right off one of the main streets (6 lanes of traffic going in 5 different directions). I had heard about this place since we moved to Hong Kong, and had to check it out. Very quirky, very chinese. But it really did have a creative feel to it. 85% of the world's quick art (hotels, etc.) are painted right here. They are also master copiers - I saw ab out 50 Mona Lisa's (one smoking a doobie - explains the smile...), and huge 10'X10' grand oil paintings that grace the world's most famous estates - from Napoleon atop his white horse, to the Blue Boy, to Gandalf, they've got it all here... Oh... China.

Venus at the entrance to the Artist Village, Shenzhen

A little square in the center of the village - not much traffic that day, it was rainy and overcast, but wonderful sculpture everywhere.



Busts of famous painters also everywhere - a little incongruous, until you realize that these Chinese artists are busy recreating every work of art in the world.

Display at one of the shops - many get family paintings done from photographs

Shop exterior

Another shop exterior - lots to choose from!

Lots of buildings were brightly painted, and art spilled out onto the streets

Framing at unbelievable prices - for a picture, purchased for 180 Remimbi (about $25CAD) it cost an extra $8 CAD to get it framed...

Lots of artists right there, doing their work while we walked past

Main entrance to the village

Good thing I went with friends who knew which shops were good, and which ones to avoid

History of the Artist Village - quite a success story for the poor, unrepresented artists in China

Coming off the main street and into the village

Hand with paintbrush sculpture at the entrance to the Village

Fun day, and we went home with lots of packages!