In his installation "Peach Blossom Prose," artist Shi Jinsong plucks off all the peach blossoms, strips off the bark, burns the tree up and "adorns" it with jewelry and trinkets. [Shanghai Daily]

Another installation is Shi Jinsong's "Peach Blossom Prose." Uprooting a peach tree from northern China, Shi plucked off all the peach blossoms, stripped off the bark, set it on fire and brought the charred tree to Shanghai.

Here it was "reborn" as an "ornamental" rack on which to hang pieces of jewelry and trinkets from the artist's friends. Visitors are invited to bring their own decorations for the tree.

Interaction with art and architecture are major themes. "We wanted to bring people back into the buildings," says Frank Kruger, creative director of Logon, the architectural firm behind 800 Show renovations.

"Both architecture and art are created by people for people, and without an audience both would be meaningless," he adds. "The renovation aimed to bring life back into the old buildings, and history back to the life of the city. It helps retain the identity of the city."

After this exhibition, 800 Show will host the annual Creative Industries Week on October 15-21. Every year the event is hosted in a new creative park and the grand openings have been held in the parks.

The main hall of 800 Show has been rented by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Shanghai for cultural programs as part of their World Expo 2010 offering.

Hidden away behind residential buildings, the old factories were until now unknown to most Shanghai citizens.

The main buildings used to be the Shanghai People's Electric Machinery Plant, including 15 buildings of various sizes, styles and age. The factory dates back to the 1920s, but before that time it had been a private villa.

Buildings blocking the compound's access to Changde Road were demolished to welcome people into this previously inaccessible space. The size of the project and different buildings posed a challenge for Kruger's team, which spent two years on renovation.

Using as light a touch as possible, Kruger sought to retain the old facades, just as "the wrinkles on an old man's face tell his life story."

Water fountains in quiet plazas dot the compound, representing "life in traditional Chinese culture," says Kruger.

The creative center is a sign that the Jing'an District government is trying to introduce more art and creativity into this predominantly commercial area.

Logon architects are old hands at creative parks. In addition to 800 Show, they designed the IIInshanghai Creative Park on Dingxi Road which houses their offices. They are working on four other creative parks around the city.

The emergence of creative hubs and parks marks a new level of urban development. Half a century ago, factories and industry drove the economy. That's why there are so many factories around, some in very central locations.

"Now there is a new economy and new industries occupying the old space," Kruger says, "and more recognition for their value."

"Rebirth" exhibition

Date: through September 30, 10am-6pm

Address: 800 Changde Rd

(Shanghai Daily September 22, 2009)