Currently the only biennial exhibition in the world to be based exclusively on the set themes of Urbanism and Urbanization, the Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture in Shenzhen will open for its 7th edition tomorrow, Dec 15th. Initiated in 2005 by the Shenzhen Municipal Government and joined by neighboring Hong-Kong in 2007, the co-organized biennale addresses both the material aspects of urban development as well as the many social aspects of city living in the context of rapid growth. 

Curated by Hou Hanrou and the founding partners of URBANUS, Liu Xiaodu and Meng Yan, the exhibition's theme this year is “Cities, Grow in Difference." With more than 200 exhibitors including MVRDV, the French artist Pierre Huyghes, the Dutch artist Rob Voerman and the Chinese architect John Lin, participants will explore the urban concept of “coexistence” and its role in the future development of urban villages and their place among the swiftly developing cities of China. 

Held in Nantou Old Town in the Nanshan district, the exhibition will be scattered throughout the city and organized by three sections: 'Global South', which will present the Southern world from perspectives of natural evolution, historical change, geopolitical shift, and world development; 'Urban Village', which focuses on the research on urban villages and related issues; and 'Art Making City', in which artists from around the world explore the notions of the street, home, public space, social production and more.

Programming throughout the three-month exhibition will include various thematic forums and lectures as well as more diverse academic events like theatre-based forums, urban debate competitions, and architecture critics workshops. There will also be more public-facing events that include performance art, modern dance, live theater, movie shows, and flea market displays. UABB, now celebrating its 10th anniversary of the bi-city establishment, will officially open tomorrow and begin receiving visitors December 16, 2017.