On the afternoon of October 8, a special event quietly unfolded at No. 46 Erxianqiao East Road in Chengdu — the opening of the “Dong Menli · Music & Art Salon Exhibition.”
This exhibition brought together six artists with strong independent voices and deep academic backgrounds — Yan Cheng, Xue Manli, Zhao Huan, Liu Shi, Xie Zhengli, and Tan Xiaozheng. Each of them played a dual role — both creator and curator. Their paintings, diverse in style and concept, created a conversation that reflected not just aesthetic differences, but also the artists’ thoughts on our times, personal experience, and the structures we live within.
In this living-room-style space called “East Gate,” art is no longer something distant, hung high on white walls. Instead, it becomes part of daily life — a shared emotional and spiritual resonance.
The exhibition invites the audience to experience how these artists, through self-curation, break through the boundaries of institutions and identities to return to the true core of art — freedom and sincerity.
It’s a collective practice of creation and reflection — a gentle dialogue between life and art.
Adding even more layers to the experience, a chamber orchestra and MOMO Music Team performed live during the opening, blending classical and contemporary sounds into the atmosphere. The result was a feast for both the eyes and the ears — intimate, vibrant, and a little nostalgic, almost like stepping back into a private salon from old Shanghai.
The performances continued into the evening, filling the space with warmth and laughter.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s how Chengdu’s quiet transformation begins — through authentic, cross-disciplinary conversations between artists, musicians, and everyday people.
(Opening Scene）
(Behind the Scenes)
