Artist Dodi Reifenberg's work Green Bag features at the Iberia Center for Contemporary Art. Photo: Courtesy of Goethe-Institut China

Chinese audiences have gradually become familiar with the artistic power of 3D, especially in blockbuster movies. But 3D paintings and other artworks aside from sculptures and installations are still a relatively new frontier.

Most people think 3D glasses are needed to enjoy such paintings, however by manipulating distances, angles and shadows, 3D painters push visual boundaries with their illusionary artworks that don't require special glasses to be appreciated.

Now, Beijing is being treated to the charm of 3D paintings as part of a South Korean exhibition titled "The Amazing Optical Illusion Art Show," which opened July 20 at the 751 Art Zone.

The exhibition is part of 20th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China.

It features more than 80 different 3D paintings that cover a wide range of different interesting themes, including the intricacies of both Korean and Chinese culture.

All showcased 3D paintings were jointly created by South Korean artists from the Amazing Optical Illusion Art Show. Though they haven't made the journey to China for the exhibition, curator Lu Ya'nan noted the participating artists are fan favorites in their native South Korea.

"The exhibition has been held five times and proved a commercial triumph in South Korea, " Lu told Metro Beijing.

Liu Chunxu, a 16-year-old high school student visiting the exhibition, told Metro Beijing she "really enjoyed" the artworks on display. "This is just like a huge, fancy photo studio. I really enjoy taking photos here," said Liu, showing photos on her camera, including one of a shark crashing through the glass of an aquarium.

"Look how it appears so real in the photo," she gushed. "It's the first time that I've visited this kind of exhibition and I have to say it's very interesting," she added.

But not everyone was swept up in enthusiasm for the art exhibition. Chu Jianmin, a 24-year-old IT worker visiting the exhibition, said the admission fee of 60 yuan was "a little expensive, considering many galleries and art centers at the nearby 798 Art Zone have free entry."

"Most paintings are hanging on the wall, but I'd prefer to see more paintings on the ground, like those giant 3D artworks people often see on streets in Western countries," said Chu, referring to renowned German street artist Edgar Müller.

The exhibition ambitiously aims to attract half a million visitors.

However, as of August 1, merely 4,000 people had visited the exhibition, among who half were Korean.

Lu downplayed suggestions that perhaps Chinese audiences aren't ready for 3D art, or that it doesn't appeal to their artistic tastes.

"The heavy rain lately is probably what has deterred many possible visitors from the exhibition," said Lu. "We have every confidence that the visitor volume will rise when the weather improves."

"It's a good chance for Chinese people to learn about a popular art form in other countries," Lu added.

When: Until September 9

Where: 751D. PARK E, 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang district

Admission: 60 yuan

Contact: 5900-4680

Source: Global Times