An abandoned sanitary ware factory in Foshan's Chancheng District has been transformed into a buzzing art hub, blending industrial grit with avant-garde creativity and offering a fresh blueprint for urban renewal.
The "WonderFac" exhibition, launched on April 15 in Zhangcha subdistrict, Chancheng, Foshan, turns the former Dongpeng Sanitary Ware Factory, once churning out bathroom fixtures, into a maze of art installations, live performances, and eco-friendly design labs. It runs until June 15, with new artworks added weekly.
Industrial ruins turned into art
The project, led by DP Lab (Dongpeng Innovation Lab), merges sustainability with avant-garde art. Visitors navigate through a "toilet botanical garden" made of discarded ceramics, a "concrete jungle" sculpted from rubble, and a theater built from old molds. By night, the space pulses with experimental music and immersive dance shows under exposed steel beams.
"T2M serves as an open and innovative platform dedicated to showcasing Foshan's industrial transformation to young generations and local communities, demonstrating how the city is embracing a sustainable future through both environmental and cultural preservation," said He Ying, Vice Chairman and President of Dongpeng Holdings. He hopes that this exhibition will offer practical solutions for cultural innovation and urban renewal across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Why not demolish?
Once a symbol of Foshan's manufacturing might, the factory sat empty for years until 2023, when DP Lab chose to preserve its skeleton. Instead of rebuilding, designers used low-cost, sustainable materials to create galleries, markets, and coworking zones within the original structure.
"Every creation here is spontaneous and free-flowing," explains Russian artist Arsenii, who collaborated with Foshan-based artist Zhong Huiqi on a sound-light installation that merges technology with artistic expression.
"I've long sought spaces where raw concrete and steel beams coexist with light and electricity," says Zhong. The old industrial venue at T2M perfectly aligns with her vision for "ruin art", a style that transforms decay into creative potential. She also expresses her desire to craft works that reflect both Southern China's spirit and Foshan's industrial legacy.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Wei Shen, James, Shen He
