This transformation is central to understanding her work. Born in 1969 in Shenyang, Ai rose to fame in the early 1990s with her song My 1997, becoming one of China's most recognizable musical voices. Yet, at the height of her success, she chose to step away, turning instead to painting and relocating to New York to study contemporary art.

"In my musical years, I expressed outwardly," she reflects."Through years of visual art practice, I have become a simpler, quieter practitioner."

Since 2007, she has exhibited widely, including at the National Museum of China and the Ambrosiana Art Gallery in Milan. Over time, her work has shifted from expression to inquiry, from performance to contemplation.

Art critic Yin Jinan sees this duality as central to her practice. "There is both rational calmness and emotional intensity," he observes. "She approaches the theme of love with warmth, yet maintains a structural and conceptual clarity."

In Shenzhen, a city built on movement, migration, and reinvention, Ai's personal trajectory resonates naturally. She notes that when she first exhibited here eight years ago, her focus was largely inward.

"Today, I find that I care more about others," she says.

As the city's skyline continues to rise and Lianhua Mountain remains a constant presence, Walking in the Sun positions art not as an object to be viewed but as a field to be entered. It invites viewers to pause, look back, and ultimately, continue forward.

Under the blazing sun, Ai suggests, the act of walking may be the only answer we have.

Contact the writer at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn