A two-part installation by artist Zheng Lu is on display in the atrium of The Opposite House in Beijing’s Taikoo Li Sanlitun shopping and entertainment district through Sept. 30. The work includes Hongren Landscape, a three-dimensional steel sculpture honoring 17th-century landscape painter Hong Ren, and Water in Dripping, which combines scripted words and characters from a poem by Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi with flowing water.
The installation resonates with the hotel’s design, which contrasts modern and traditional elements. Japanese architect Kengo Kuma selected emerald green glass for the striking exterior, while the interior offers a calm atmosphere with 98 wood-floored, open-plan studios and a two-floor penthouse suite. The hotel’s ground floor doubles as gallery space for contemporary Chinese artists, enhancing its cultural role. Additional guest amenities include a modern pool and gym, and the recently opened dining venue Jing Yaa Tang, noted for specialties centered on Beijing roast duck.
This exhibition is a strong example of integrating contemporary art into public hospitality spaces, creating a dialogue between historical reference and present-day design. Zheng Lu’s Hongren Landscape interprets traditional ink-and-brush aesthetics in steel, producing a sculptural landscape that echoes classical composition while asserting a distinctly modern material presence. Water in Dripping uses text and water to create an environment where language, sound and movement intersect, inviting visitors to experience poetry in a tactile, sensory way.
Placing these works within the atrium amplifies their impact: the open, light-filled space allows the sculpture’s form and the water installation’s motion to be viewed from multiple angles and levels. The juxtaposition of hard steel and flowing water mirrors the broader architectural interplay of solidity and transparency in the building itself. For guests and passersby, the installation offers a moment of contemplation amid a bustling commercial district, reinforcing The Opposite House’s commitment to presenting contemporary Chinese art in a public, accessible setting.
Visitors interested in art, architecture and contemporary design will find the show particularly rewarding. The installation remains on view through Sept. 30, providing ample opportunity to experience how Zheng Lu reinterprets historical references through modern media and situates them within a thoughtfully designed hospitality environment.