THE air of freedom in Shenzhen is what led mainland painter Wang Dalin to move to the Special Economic Zone from his home in Shanghai six years ago. Even the city's reputation as a place of prostitution and sweatshops rather than as a home for the arts has not shaken his will to stay on.
But while he admits Shenzhen is usually linked with capitalist rather than artistic ventures, Wang, who was art director of the city's only art museum until a few months ago, says it's the best place for his career.
''I am making improvements here,'' he says.
Not many mainland artists would agree. For those claiming to be at the forefront of the arts, Shenzhen is hardly the place to be living in.
''There is a deep-rooted thinking that Northern China, particularly Beijing and Shanghai, is the centre of development. The south is seen only as a haven for making money,'' says Oscar Ho, the Hong Kong Arts Centre's exhibition director.
For the past decade, attention has concentrated on the SEZ's market-oriented economy. ''It is a chaotic city. It's fast developing. But it is unfair to blame it for everything bad that is happening,'' admits Wang.
