by Shamim Zakaria

BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- A spellbinding fusion of dance, technology and AI-powered art recently lit up the stage at Shanghai's Gwantsi XR Studio, plunging the audience into a surreal, sensory-rich realm where human expression seamlessly merged with digital creativity.

At the heart of the show titled "POST-NATURE" is British architect and award-winning new media artist Leon Krykhtin, who directed, conceptualized and designed the entire experience.

Inspired by the delicate relationship between humanity and the natural world, Krykhtin combined abstract, nature-inspired visuals, generative AI poetry, and real-time particle simulations to craft an evolving digital environment.

The show featured performances by Kristina Pascal, a Russian dance artist, and Lu Rong, a Chinese co-performer, along with a few live art pieces by Nathan Fonseca, a fellow collaborator from Costa Rica.

This immersive event, held last month, is part of a series that explores the relationship between human and nature. "The show captures a kind of lost connection between us and the natural world," Krykhtin explained. "All the visuals and poems interconnect, reflecting our subtle appreciation and complex bond with both organic and material nature."

As an audience member, Anastasiia Rozinova described the show as "unexpectedly profound and thoroughly captivating."

The Shanghai-based linguist from Russia noted that she was particularly awed by the massive projection screen and the real-time visuals that responded to the dancers' movements. "They weren't videos, but live digital brushstrokes," she said, adding that the interactive element offered a rare opportunity for the audience to "step into the art" and experience the creative process firsthand.

The performance featured an 84-square-meter micro LED screen, one of the top-notch quality screens available globally.

Beyond its innovative use of technology and art, the show serves as a vibrant symbol of the common creative ground being forged between expats and locals in China.

Pascal works in public relations for a Russian company, and Rong, in the cruise line industry, both nurture full-time careers while devoting themselves part-time to artistic exploration. Krykhtin, balancing his architectural work and roles as an educator, leads this vibrant collaboration.

"Living in China has completely reshaped my perspective on starting new hobbies," Pascal said. "Here, people embrace new beginnings at any age. The environment is so welcoming and open-minded. Shanghai, especially, has so much to offer with its rich arts and culture scene."

Krykhtin himself has composed the original music for the show, utilizing AI-powered generative techniques to create soundscapes that range from calming and meditative to powerfully immersive. The music, much like the visuals, was designed to have a mental healing effect, offering viewers a sense of tranquility and focus, he noted.

Shedding more light on his project, Krykhtin said that living in Shanghai provides a fertile ground for nurturing the fusion of creativity and technology.

"What I love is the strong support from the Chinese government for both technology and the arts," he said. "The push for high-tech development alongside creativity is far more vigorous here than in many other places. That support lets me bring my ideas for art shows and exhibitions to life, integrating new technologies in ways I couldn't imagine elsewhere."

China's generative AI tools are carving out a unique niche, offering a blend of entertainment and practical benefits. Out of over 1,300 AI large language models (LLMs) globally, the country accounts for more than 30 percent, making it the second-largest contributor after the United States, according to a white paper on the global digital economy released in July by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

Despite the rapid AI boom in China and around the world, Rong believes the technology is still far from being mature or advanced enough to replace human creativity. Instead, she sees AI as opening up vast space for imagination, experimentation and creative exploration.

Krykhtin's passion for storytelling with AI is evolving from a personal pursuit into a meaningful contribution to China. He was recently honored with the "Excellence Award in AI Video" at the 2025 Global AI Creator Competition: "Luoyang, The Peony Capital" by local authorities in Luoyang, in central China's Henan Province.

He received the award for his innovative use of AI to showcase the ancient capital city's rich history and culture through immersive video storytelling.

"Such recognition shows there's a real interest in supporting emerging creativity and art," Krykhtin said. "It makes it so much easier for people like us to pursue projects related to AI."

According to China's development plan for next-generation AI, the country aims to become a global hub for AI innovation by 2030, with its core AI industry projected to exceed 1 trillion yuan (about 139 billion U.S. dollars), and related industries surpassing 10 trillion yuan. In line with this vision, many local governments are ramping up efforts to integrate innovation resources and accelerate the growth of AI technologies and related sectors.

After nearly a decade in China, Pascal now affectionately regards the country as her "home away from home." She appreciates its stability, safety and the endless opportunities for connection and creativity. "There's always something to do, always communities to be part of."

Though a relative newcomer with three and a half years in the country, Krykhtin is currently busy with AI-related projects and speaking engagements with some Chinese universities. From his experience, the business environment for expats is refreshingly accessible, especially with streamlined visa procedures and straightforward paperwork.

For Rong, what makes these creative collisions even more rewarding is the diversity of voices behind them. "I'm a strong believer in working with multicultural teams," she said. "In the creative industry, it's crucial to understand the backgrounds and cultures of both your team and your audience. Without that awareness, ideas can easily get lost in translation."

"When different perspectives meet, especially those that challenge each other, that's when the most exciting, eye-opening work happens," she said. ■