Time-honored bookstore turned into an experimental ground for art

For seven decades since it sprouted in the heart of Wangfujing Commercial Street, Beijing Foreign Languages Bookstore has been a mainstay for readers to learn about the world. Now the spaces from the second to the fifth floors of the landmark bookstore have been turned into a showcase for works by contemporary artists to address its history and the changes overtime it has witnessed, and to echo the roles of reading and books in a digital era.

This special project begins with a series of installations by Li Sen on the second floor. Li incorporates the old bookshelves into his work, and uses mirrors to discuss the meanings of books in opening up people's minds, connecting them with the world and reflecting on themselves.