Ever since the piece was first publicly exhibited at the Milan Expo 2015, Shu has been inviting leaders of the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as representatives from all walks of life, to sign on the golden bricks.

"I want the bridge to be a collective creation by the entire world. With the signatures, the artwork links the individuals, the nations and the peoples."

The artwork is designed to be displayed outdoors, as Shu strives to bring creativity to the masses. Ever since the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2017, the original piece has been on exhibit in front of the China National Convention Center in Beijing, where the forum was hosted.

"I would like it to be seen by more people, so that the meaning and value of the initiative could be quickly grasped through the artwork. Only by returning to the broader public society, can the value of these works be truly realized."

With a vision to extend the artwork into a series along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Shu aspires to make his golden bridge "a cultural symbol of the new era".

"Cultural symbols are the most straightforward and memorable way to present the values and development of a country. I believe it can be meaningful if we can substantialize the idea of 'a community with a shared future for humanity' into a new cultural symbol," Shu says.

Compared to existing cultural symbols, which are usually a fixed shape, in Shu's vision, his would be a flexible one. Being made of golden bricks means that the bridge can be assembled into different structures.

The original piece takes the shape of Zhaozhou Bridge, the oldest standing bridge in China, an accurate representation of both the ancient and the modern-it was then an example of advanced technology during the Sui Dynasty (581-618), and is now an icon of China's cultural and historical heritage.