Three specially commissioned artworks.
An immersive journey into nature.
Where truth meets beauty — only at CITIC Pacific Mall.
Grand Opening, July 28.

Commissioned by CITIC Pacific T CENTER, Art Pioneer Studio creates three artistic landmarks for a panoramic vision of life within folded time.

A visit to T CENTER becomes a journey immersed in nature, a roaming through time itself. Whether one's purpose is shopping, working, dining, or simply pausing to rest, three artworks along the way become inspiring landmarks for travelers.

Guided by the creative themes of "Human," "Environment," and "Object": the panda in An Encounter of a Lifetime bears witness to the treasured encounters of travelers; the landscape chandelier Joy in Mountains and Waters shines with the cyclical passage of the four seasons; and The Growth of All Beings invites contemplation on the vitality of life, emanating a mysterious energy from a hidden realm.

An Encounter of a Lifetime

What is the symbolic meaning of pandas and cherries?

CITIC Pacific South Square

The sculpture White Lover Bears on the South Square is envisioned to bring a lively and diverse atmosphere to the commercial environment. The two pandas, rendered entirely in white and leaning gently against one another, move away from naturalistic representation to invite personal interpretation. In their quiet intimacy, visitors may sense warmth, vitality, and a fleeting yet precious “moment of happiness” at the heart of T CENTER.

Moments of reunion are always beautiful yet fleeting—like delicate, jewel-like cherries. Cherries symbolize those sweet, romantic instants we wish could last forever. Rendered in gleaming red stainless steel, the work seeks to crystallize such fleeting moments, preserving them as cherished memories: a constellation of purity, sincerity, and joy in the here and now.

Life is ever-changing, which only makes each shared second more precious. As the saying goes, “Every encounter is a long-awaited reunion.” The panda and the cherry together embody togetherness and care, love and warmth. “A rare meeting, treasured deeply”—this is our once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Production

The Growth of All Beings

What aesthetic charm does the magnolia convey?

CITIC Pacific North Square

Spring is the season of growth. As yin and yang energies shift, all living things awaken and sprout with the rising vitality of the sun. Flowers that bloom in secret corners bring warmth to those passing by. The refined elegance of the magnolia and the vibrant energy of burgeoning life evoke a sense of calm and openness.

Bloom presents a series of minimalist, abstract magnolia buds. Its leaves are slender, graceful, and light, preserving the fresh, upright form of the petals just before they unfurl, enclosing a single bud that reaches confidently upward.

The sculpture’s apex aligns with the sloping roof of the building, creating an upward-to-downward trend that harmonizes with the architectural surroundings, establishing a visual dialogue with the structure.

Production

Joy in Mountains and Waters

A Journey Through the Seasons of the Secret Realm

CITIC Pacific City Living Room

Within the City Living Room, The Joy of Mountains and Rivers serves as a secret world along the T CENTER journey. It forms a grand landscape backdrop that threads through the entire narrative, inviting visitors to “arrive in the morning, linger until evening,” creating a space to pause, admire, and lose themselves in. This work is led by renowned new media artist Cao Yuxi and will be unveiled soon—stay tuned!

Artists

Alex Yuan

Born in 1971 in Shanghai, Alex Yuan is a sculptor at the Shanghai Oil Painting and Sculpture Institute. He is a member of the Shanghai Artists Association, the China Sculpture Society, and the Sculpture Committee of the China Arts and Crafts Association, and holds the title of National First-Class Artist.
Yuan’s sculptures are strikingly bold and highly individual, as if one can hear the very voice of life, imbued with philosophical reflection. His works are distinctly contemporary, radiating immense vitality.

Solo Exhibitions:
2014: Fables of Tomorrow, Shanghai Oil Painting and Sculpture Institute Museum
2016: Fables of Tomorrow, Shanghai Hong Kong Plaza
2018: Fables of Life, Shanghai Oil Painting and Sculpture Institute Museum
2020: Toyland, Shanghai Oil Painting and Sculpture Institute Museum
2022: Unknown Yet to Come, Shanghai Oil Painting and Sculpture Institute Museum

His works have also been exhibited internationally at venues including the Venice Biennale (Italy), École des Beaux-Arts in Marseille (France), Valencia Museum of Modern Art (Spain), White Box Art Center in Munich (Germany), Taipei Fine Arts Museum (Taiwan), National Museum of Oriental Art in Rome (Italy), and the China Cultural Center in Bangkok (Thailand).

Weigang Gao

Born in 1976 in Heilongjiang, China, Gao currently lives and works in Beijing. In 2005, he transitioned from the retail industry to the art world. Gao’s practice seeks to resist the overpowering influence of the increasingly pervasive forces of globalization, maintaining a personal perspective rooted in his own life experiences. His work examines the tensions between human society and natural forces, while consistently preserving the intrinsic characteristics of each medium he employs. With a blend of humor and skepticism, he challenges viewers’ visual and cognitive habits, prompting reflection on the familiar world around them. His artistic approach spans painting, video, installation, and performance.

Solo exhibitions:
2022 Wish You Were Here, Saicen Art Space, Shanghai, China
2021 Predetermined, APSMUSEUM, Shanghai, China
2020 Looking Back, Oil Tank Art Center, Shanghai, China
2018 Orion, Qimu Space, Beijing, China
2017 100,000 Light Years, VNH Gallery, Paris, France
2015 The Breakaway, Boers-Li Gallery, Hong Kong, China ; Return Trip, Dongjingyuan, Beijing, China
2014 Illusion, Louis Vuitton Art Gallery, Singapore
2013 NO WAY!, Hushen Gallery, Shanghai, China
2012 Bad Habits, Platform China Art Space, Beijing, China; “Superstition,” Taikang Space, Beijing, China
2011 Everything Isn't Gonna Be Alright, it#u Gallery, Shanghai, China; Discomfort, Mini Gallery, Beijing, China
2009 Blind Bee, Mo Jinshi Space, Beijing, China
2008 Foreign Object, Art File Warehouse, Beijing, China

T CENTER

Shanghai T CENTER is a premier mixed-use development meticulously developed by CITIC Pacific Properties, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Fortune 500 company CITIC Group. As a highly anticipated skyline landmark within Shanghai’s inner ring, the project is situated along the city’s innovation corridor on Wuning Road, seamlessly connected to Meiling North Road Station on Metro Line 15 and adjacent to the western entrance ramp of Wuning Road Expressway’s Daduhé Road reconstruction. Serving as a vital link between urban vitality and industrial growth, T CENTER carries the mission of enhancing regional innovation capacity.

The development spans approximately 385,000 square meters and integrates diverse functions, including Grade-A twin office towers, high-end residential apartments, a commercial center, standalone corporate headquarters, and business hotels. This integration creates a self-sustaining ecosystem where business, cultural, and lifestyle needs coexist, offering seamless access to office spaces, leisure, and refined living. T CENTER aims to be “a cozy home for white-collar professionals and a welcoming headquarters for enterprises,” while also serving as a new hub of enjoyment for surrounding city residents.

The Grade-A twin towers are the signature work of world-leading design firm Gensler. Comprising two office towers of approximately 180 meters and 171 meters, the buildings stand as iconic benchmarks on Shanghai’s skyline, reflecting international standards of first-tier cities and drawing attention across the metropolis. The towers have already attracted interest from major global and domestic companies, including multinational Unifed Viamer, Guogao Oilfield, A-share listed Yuguang Lead & Zinc, innovative firms JuJie Consulting and Qingteng Era, and co-working operator Shangke Space.

T CENTER Mall, located directly above Metro Line 15, serves as a one-stop lifestyle hub spanning roughly 67,000 square meters. It hosts over 150 renowned international and domestic brands covering gourmet dining, fashion, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle services. Catering to a professional population of 200,000 in the surrounding business district as well as high-density, high-net-worth residential communities nearby, the mall offers differentiated positioning to meet the needs of all consumer segments. It emphasizes business-support services and the lifestyle aspirations of local residents, creating a premium one-stop shopping and living experience. Key tenants include Shanghai’s first RT-Mart Super, Zhongti Wanxiang Sports Lifestyle Center, the Putuo District debut of Minggu Market themed street, New World collection store, Wandao, and numerous other partners, shaping a relaxed, stylish, and diverse commercial atmosphere.

CITIC PACIFIC PROPERTIES

CITIC Pacific Properties is a comprehensive real estate company with over 30 years of experience, specializing in the investment, development, operation, and management of urban mixed-use complexes and boutique properties. Guided by the philosophy of “precision” and “distinctiveness,” the company has built a complete industry chain covering the full real estate lifecycle. With a focus on China’s most dynamic and high-potential economic regions, CITIC Pacific Properties is committed to creating long-term value and shaping the future of urban development. Its core business areas include property development, commercial operations, and property management.

CITIC Pacific Properties in China

Representative Projects in China