Transition from tradition

The show Transition comprises eight largescale installations, including Light Breeze at Dongting Lake.

The artist says he is fond of trying new materials and including high-tech inputs in his artworks. So he has introduced music and videos in his latest pieces.

Rain Drum, he says, was inspired by watching Parkview Green washed in the rain during his many visits.

He uses small metal balls on a waterproof film to bring out his vision. When the metal balls drop on the film's surface, they produce a rhythm that is similar to the beating of a drum. Audiences walking underneath the installation get the feeling of walking in the rain.

To create the installation, Zheng worked with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He started to prepare for the show three years ago.

"It's hard to run such installations. It needs four machines and a computer to control the space," he says.

His studio in suburban Beijing is like a factory, where a team of more than 40 people work.

Zheng says producing his works is similar to "doing experiments" in the lab.