A show for 10 master cases in Chinese contemporary art is scheduled to open in Shanghai on May 1 to echo the official opening of the World Expo 2010.

The one-month show, held by the Shanghai 800 Art Zone at the city's Yangpu district, will display works from 10 master artists, ranging from oil paintings to photographs, wash paintings and calligraphy.

These works will reflect various kinds of contemporary subjects by using traditional skills and modern art language from natural environment to social changes, people's life and mental outlook, said Ren Guomin, art director of the Shanghai 800 Art Zone.

"Visitors can find out from the works their intense emotion to probe into the Chinese contemporary art,'' said Ren.

He cited artist Li Huasheng as an example, who has innovated wash paintings by using abstract art, providing room for wash paintings to develop.

Calligraphers from Taiwan will display their works at the show to showcase the various features of calligraphy by discussing the relations between calligraphy and industry.

They have absorbed knowledge from Chinese and Western literature, fine arts, design, music, operas, films, dance, sports, sculpture and architecture to reflect the life of the times, Ren said.

The Shanghai 800 Art Zone, one of the city's first batch of artistic industrial parks, covers an area of about 60,000 square meters. To date, 40 artistic institutions have set foot on the zone for art creation, including King Space, Uwantart, The gallery and TONY & TINA.

Ren said the zone plans to launch a project to build a contemporary art museum for public service with an area of 20,000 square meters. The project is expected to cost an investment of 50 million yuan.

"With such a museum, the zone is able to provide a platform for artists from home and abroad to probe into, create and display contemporary art,'' he said.