Pavilions are one of the basic components of Chinese architecture. Whether a common edifice on the roadside or a majestic centerpiece of an imperial garden, the pavilion, as its Chinese pronunciation "ting" suggests, is where people stop. Whether that be for a rest or to take shelter from the weather, pavilions are often built in places that command a fine view of nature. They can also allow people to recall an event in the past, to remember an important person, or to enjoy some self-reflection.

Inspired by classic pavilions, Zhang Zheyi, an artist from Beijing, designed a pink pavilion late last year, and had it installed in the countryside of Jingyang, a district of Deyang, Sichuan province, which is surrounded by hilly landscapes and is abundant in centuries-old agricultural resources.

Rather than choosing wood or stone, the common materials for a pavilion, Zhang used composite materials to give his work a modern, refreshing and cheerful look.

The pavilion faces a river on one side. When people enter it, they will see through one of its windows a group of four trees standing on the opposite bank of the river. On the trees there are four yellow silhouettes of bird which Zhang crafted with metal.

After sunset, the pavilion and the trees are all lit up to create an atmosphere of romance and serenity.

Zhang named his work A Room With a View of Nightingales. "People who travel here will enjoy the scenery all the way, but there are very few roadside facilities for a rest. That was how I came up with the idea of making a piece of art that also provided a temporary shelter for travelers," he says.

Zhang also drew inspiration from Jingyang's status as a favored habitat for several species of migratory birds and, as such, is a popular spot for bird watching.

"When I stayed briefly for the work, I always heard the birds. My creation is also centered around the activity of bird watching and the harmony between people and their surroundings."

Zhang was among 12 artists who came to Jingyang for temporary residence and creation over the past year as part of a joint initiative by the local government and Art Nova 100, a Beijing organization and launchpad for young artists, to encourage them to integrate their work with the social and cultural aspects of the rural area.

Altogether, 14 works, including Zhang's pink pavilion, were unveiled in October at Art Jingyang 2022, and they have become an integral part of Jingyang's landscape, turning the countryside into a public art show that never closes, according to Song Jirui, the chief curator.

"Art is not the key to everything," Song says. "What we aim for is to awaken people's memories of the best of rural life and to empower rural vitalization."

The project includes 10 installations placed along a newly built countryside road which connects five towns and villages, and which runs across hills, rivers and terraced fields.

"We hope to add more dimensions of beauty and fun to this thoroughfare, making it an option for those who hike, jog, cycle, drive or camp," Song says.

Another four works are murals, painted on the walls of village houses.

Song says villagers often gathered for hours to watch artists working, and "as they saw vibrant colors blooming to light up the formerly gray, dull walls, they came to understand what we were doing, and asked the artists to paint on their houses too".

"One's pursuit of beauty is natural, and sometimes urgent," he adds.

"Additionally, we hope these works can help increase Jingyang's exposure to the outside, and inspire more people to find career opportunities in the course of rural vitalization."

Speaking about what he imagines an ideal village to be, Zhang says it would be "a small community that is clean, peaceful, harmonious and integrated into nature".