A sculpture stands in the Hohhot International Sculpture Park. [Photo by Liu Qingyu, Wang Shaokai/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The first Hohhot International Sculpture Exhibition opened at the newly completed Hohhot Sculpture Museum in Hohhot, located in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Oct 14.

Some 100 artists, including members of the Paris-based Académie des Beaux-Arts, the Florence Academy of Fine Arts and leading artists from both the domestic and international art world, participated in the exhibition and related activities. 

The exhibition showcases 58 classic sculptures from China and abroad, as well as 100 selected works from a special collection.

During the opening ceremony, Wu Weishan, president of the Chinese Urban Sculpture Artists Association, presented a plaque to the Hohhot Sculpture Museum's China City Sculptors Association Creation Exhibition Center and delivered a speech. Didier Bernheim from the Académie des Beaux-Arts also gave a speech.

An example of French artist Rodin's great work The Thinker features at the Hohhot sculpture exhibition. [Photo by Liu Qingyu, Wang Shaokai/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Covering an area of 25,000 square meters, the Hohhot Sculpture Museum has become a new cultural landmark in the city.

It features the main sculpture hall, themed exhibition halls, artist studios, a multifunctional conference hall, a café, a creative store and support commercial areas. The museum is dedicated to becoming a comprehensive hub for the art of sculpture - combining production, education and research.

According to reports, on Oct 13, the Chinese Urban Sculpture Artists Association signed a cooperation framework agreement with the municipal government, to assist Hohhot in becoming a "City of Sculpture Art".

A selection of artwork goes on display at the first Hohhot International Sculpture Exhibition. [Photo by Liu Qingyu, Wang Shaokai/For chinadaily.com.cn]