With the Pop Culture 2018 Art Festival underway in Shanghai, artists and visitors are trying to define the metropolis' modern lifestyle with “Pop Culture.”

The Pop Culture Art Festival originated from an international exhibition under the same name, and had been held in Los Angeles, Tokyo and London. This year is the exhibition's debut in China.

With 30 groups of artists from at least nine countries and regions, a total of 425 artistic works were on display at the Sinan Mansions, a complex of private villas in Shanghai.

The 2018 Pop Culture Art Festival kicks off in Shanghai, China. /CNS Photo

“Pop Culture is the future modern,” said Stella Zheng, director of the Sinan Mansion at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pop Culture Art Festival. And since its coming into existence, the concept of pop culture, though sometimes controversial, has close relations with modern life.

Back in the 1968, U.S. pop artist Andy Warhol made his famous prediction: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” In the past decades, many artists have emerged in the sector, trying to interpret and define their views on modern life.

Despite the key words such as “popularity”, “transient”, “consumerist”, “young” and “mass production,” the movement has always attracted a bunch of young followers in every generation.

Artistic works on display. /CNS Photo

The Shanghai exhibition also features works by Andy Warhol, British artist Damien Steven Hirst, who dominated the art scene in the UK back in the 1990s, OBEY founder Frank Shepard Fairey as well as Japanese artists Yoshitomo Nara and Takashi Murakami.

Controversial British artist Banksy's works are also among the exhibits. Banksy shot to international fame after shredded one of his paintings the moment it was auctioned for 2.5 million U.S. dollars.

The event also invited eight leading international artists including David Flores, Hikari Shimoda, Jason Freeny, Jeremy Ville, Kenny Scharf, Qube.O, PichiAvo and Ron English to create art around a certain theme.

Other interactive activities are also part of the festival. The organizers are trying to make it possible for the artists to meld their ideal elements into city life, while at the same time allowing the public to take part in the process, as creators or witnesses.

(CGTN)