A thick, lingering fragrant mist, emitted intermittently from Yuan Gong's installation, The Scented Air, permeates an atmosphere already heavy with anticipation.
It's the official opening of the mainland exhibition at this year's Venice Biennale, in northern Italy, and the international art circle and media are gathering to hear what its curator, Peng Feng, and the five participating artists - Yuan, Pan Gongkai, Cai Zhisong, Liang Yuanwei and Yang Maoyuan - have to say about beauty, aesthetics and visibility. And, perhaps, the invisible.
Ai Weiwei, one of China's best-known artists and activists, and still interned following his arrest on April 3 for 'suspected economic crimes', is never far from the thoughts of the art world. Paolo Baratta, president of the biennale, said earlier: 'We are proud of having China with us. We are good friends with the Chinese, they always have great ideas.' He paused before continuing: 'I have written a letter to the ambassador of China in Italy saying how wonderful it would be if we could have happy news about Ai Weiwei.'
Kunsthaus Bregenz, an Austrian contemporary art museum, gave out 5,000 free tote bags with 'Free Ai Weiwei' printed on them during the biennale preview.
The subject of Ai's detention is clearly not to be broached in the Chinese Pavilion's unkempt garden, though. Xu Bing, a renowned contemporary artist and guest at the opening, implores: 'Please don't ask me the question because it's complicated.' Peng is equally reluctant: 'I don't know the reality of the case of Ai Weiwei ... most of the journalists [here] focus on it. I don't think it's fair to those artists who've spent almost a year creating this show for Venice so that you can enjoy the art.
'So art first, and then the politics.'
At the Venice Biennale, however, the two often go hand in hand. And this year, the world's oldest and biggest contemporary art jamboree appears to be more political than ever. A record 89 countries are taking part in the 54th Venice Biennale, including newcomers Andorra, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and Haiti, and many are tackling issues such as conflict, human rights, national identity and globalisation.