The Shanghai Expo's City Square Art Festival features over 20 pieces of street theater and gives visitors a way of "releasing the pressure caused by all the long queues," said Lee Liheng, the festival's director.

"As thousands of visitors rush into the Expo Garden everyday, why wouldn't we create a certain form of art performance to stimulate them to interact with us?" he said.

Artists from around the world bring their most creative and humorous performances to eight public squares inside the Expo site each day to keep guests entertained as they wait to access their favorite pavilions.

Lee said that he pays special attention to finding the most suitable venue for each show.

"Street art enhances the interaction between artists and visitors, so it's important to find the right environment and the right people to carry out our work."

Lee gave the examples of his belly dancers, who invite people up on stage with them, and "skin artist" Liu Xiaodong. Liu has become a hit among Expo visitors by painting oil patterns on their bare skin.

Huang Zhongyuan, 21, said he was too shy to approach Liu at first, but eventually plucked up the courage to request he paint his leg.

"You think they won't like it, but in the end most people will surprise you," said Lee, who was born in Taiwan. He describes himself as a stage director devoted to promoting a new art form.

"We have to create a new form, style and content in order to win a place in the world, otherwise our work will always be judged by the existing rules made by others," he said.

"I always insist on maintaining the quality of my work," Lee said. "Quality first, then innovation."

China Daily

(China Daily 09/24/2010)