Wuhan’s industrial vibe merges with art

For years, Wuhan, Hubei province, has cultivated newly trained artists who graduate from the city’s colleges and universities. However, most begin their careers in major art centers in bigger cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

In recent years, the local art community — artists, curators, critics, galleries, and collectors — has beefed up its resources to revitalize the city’s art ecology. The just-concluded C Art Festival is one such endeavor.

A collaboration between Yiwei Gallery and Wuhan C Lab, this year’s event brought works by artists and performers from home and abroad, along with art institutions, to the Huayuandao Road commercial area, once an automobile repair factory decades ago.

The nostalgic old factory was redesigned with urban vibes brought to life by performances and contemporary artworks. The art festival’s organizers hope to make the event a hangout spot for city dwellers and tourists, adding a new artistic attraction to Wuhan’s urban landscape.