What's it all about?

That was the lasting impression left on several visitors to a bold -- and slightly confusing -- new contemporary art exhibition in Beijing.

In fact the confusion is not altogether surprising: the Beijing Tokyo Art Project show aims to spotlight the dramatic changes which have taken place in Asian art in recent times.

A kitchen made from a cement cube, a rocket embedded with stools, labyrinth-like screens...

That's what Modern Style in East Asia 2004, one of the few modern art exhibitions focusing on changing Asian lifestyles, offers visitors.

"Under the strong influence of globalization and the invasion of Western culture, Asian countries now face a common problem," reasoned Feng Boyi, the artist behind the show. "On one hand they are eager to learn and imitate Western lifestyles while on the other hand they cannot give up old traditions. As people trying to manage their lives under such contradictions, new traditions and new styles have appeared."

Added Feng: "In contrast to the usual anti-mainstream and mocking expressions in contemporary art, works in the exhibition show more positive attitudes and deep understanding of the artists about fast-changing lifestyles."

The exhibition brings together 24 pieces by Chinese and Japanese artists, architects and designers. Among them are established artists like Ai Weiwei, Tang Hui, Wu Ershan and Tecuaki Nagamine and Nobuta Fukutsu.

One Dashanzi art dealer has seen the exhibition: "I think the works by the Chinese artists have more content and fresh expressions than their Japanese counterparts."

While the exhibition, started in mid-May, has grabbed the attention of Chinese art circles, it has remained a puzzle to the general public.

When Beijing Weekend visited, only a few students and foreigners were present. Though some showed interest in the peculiar exhibits, most admitted they had no idea what it was all supposed to mean.

Location: Beijing Tokyo Art Project, 4, Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Time: 10:30 am to 6:30 pm every day (except Monday), from now to June 13

(Beijing Weekend June 4, 2004)