In order to promote rural development and give villagers better living opportunities, the county government collaborated with the College of Fine Arts at Shanghai University to work towards reviving the cultural industry and driving the development of village construction. The ensuing introduction of creative culture and public art into the area enriched the villagers’ lives.
The Shanli village government funded the public art project, which advocated an ideal human living environment with an improved ecological environment and a more harmonious relationship between man and nature. The project also sought to allow urban inhabitants to experience rural life and to let the villagers share in the city’s more modern amenities.
In the Anime Valley of the Flowers there are more than 20 recreation projects. On the day of the Anime Valley opening ceremony, countless people visited Shanli from different provinces of China; the atmosphere was joyful and boisterous.
Experience has proved that the only way to construct a “beautiful new countryside” is by incorporating city and countryside. The beautiful new countryside construction in Shanli attaches great importance to protecting the ecological environment, keeping a balance of ecology and economy, conserving and protecting resources in order to achieve sustainable development.
The College of Fine Arts at Shanghai University established a practical teaching center in Longxi Town, letting the students explore the folk customs and the rural life, while providing a public space of cultural life for the villagers. Anime Valley of the Flowers sparked a public approach to a healthy lifestyle, integrated urban and rural development, and improved the popularity and reputation of the local district.
In the meantime, the creation of this “Beauty County” generated a fantastic opportunity and an expansive space for both artists and society. Public art is responsible for creating a good relationship between the public and the natural environment by allowing citizens to attend and receive public art activities in a positive way, day by day. Therefore, the relationship between arts and the development of society has become increasingly closer in recent years. The concept of art working with nature has become a new topic recently in the contemporary arts. This relationship not only expresses the reflection and dialogue methods of post-contemporary art, but it is also stimulating a huge change from contemporary art to public art, turning it into the main power of social and economic development. As public art plays an increasing role in rural culture construction and the redesigning of county culture and traditions, it will contribute to a renewal of the county and its culture.
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