The Fourth China Sculpture Exhibition is running at Shandong Art Museum through Nov 13. Works by up-and-coming artists are one of the highlights of the show. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Ke displays a video of how he turned a piece of wood into a key over three hours. He also shows the tools he used, the key and a locker that viewers can unlock with the key.

"It was an experiment to see if I could sit peacefully and focus on a work that seemed boring," Ke says.

"While industrialization has been rapid, I still believe there is space for a small studio where a man can devote time to handiwork, without much care about its commercial prospects."

Zeng also notes that motivated by cross-disciplinary development, Chinese artists are adopting digital technology to create a strong chemistry between their works and the audience－bringing more "visual and spiritual stimulation" to people.

Xu Jinlong, a 27-year-old artist from Guangzhou, is interested in daily use items and he explores their relationship with people. His work Distance of 0.2 Meter is shown at the exhibition, in which he recycles discarded things such as an old bed, desks, chairs and posters, to re-create a room.

He has installed a sensor and wheels on some of the objects so when viewers come closer to them－within 20 centimeters－they will move away.