The season of fallen foliage too attractive to be swept off Shanghai’s streets has come. With much anticipation, many a citizen is going out to enjoy the colorful autumn leaves. However, to some who went to West Fuxing Road in Xuhui district, the art installations along the road were disappointing.

During the last weekend, a set of 12 art installations were placed along West Fuxing Road, one of the city’s preserved heritage roads lined with significant historic buildings. However, the creations, combining elements such as fallen leaves, wood, stones and soil, were not as well received as expected. Instead, they triggered the opposition of many citizens who had made their way there to enjoy the beauty of the fallen foliage. They complained that some of the installations were too garish and had little to do with tree leaves. Some netizens believed the fallen leaves themselves are more beautiful than the art installations. They also complained that the exhibited art did not match the historical features of the neighborhood. It is obvious that the public’s reactions were a far cry from the curator’s intention.

Fortunately, 30 hours after their debut, some of the most controversial installations, such as the statue of a Western Asian beauty and relief of flying Apsaras, were removed.

(A relief of flying Apsaras on West Fuxing Road)

Artists across the world have long experimented with improving the aesthetics of public spaces in urban areas. Since 2007, Berlin’s Jan Vormann has used tens of thousands of colored LEGO bricks to patch crumbling holes in buildings as a way to “repair” architectural structures around the world. Many artists have joined him to add some childhood fun to the historic buildings. Blending cultural taste with social impact, such a kind of creative idea might be a good example for us to learn from. So, are our artists ready for fallen leaves?