Stylish vintage cars, bright flowers, vast grasslands, shimmering lakes, towering mountains, stretching rainbows and hot air balloons have a deep connection in artist Zhang Chi's new series of works, Dream, which is on display in an exhibition that runs through Dec 16.

It is the first exhibition marking the opening of the Town Art Space in the commercial complex of Outlets Town in Beijing's Chaoyang district.

Zhang's lifelike depictions and bold yet delicate use of color give visitors a peek into the vibrant tapestry of the artist's inner world.

"They were inspired by my dreams — bad, good and surreal," says Zhang, who was born in the 1980s.

An active international fashion designer, Zhang's works have been favored by many celebrities and are a highlight at red-carpet events at home and abroad.

His experiences in fashion and popular culture have given form to his distinctive painting language, particularly evident in his representative series, Golden Age, which consists of 50 works that took him about a decade to complete.

"In this explosive age of information, art should also undergo rapid updates. Life is short but I have many ideas, which can be better expressed through new technology," Zhang explains.

The Dream series utilizes innovative technology in its creations.

"I need to spend a significant amount of time engaging in dialogue with artificial intelligence, just like I do with my assistant," he says.

Different from the arduous hand-painted creation process of the Golden Age, the Dream series applied AI, which took 100 days to deliver.

The longest work of his Dream series features a vintage car wrapped by an octopus. "I selected it from numerous options, considering everything from the color of the car to the tentacles of the octopus. It is a dream of sleep paralysis enveloping you in a certain way," he says. "However, I approached it with a positive concept for the transformation of what might be considered a nightmare, all the while ensuring it stays dreamlike in a good way."

One of his favorites features a vintage car full of strawberry cream cake in the front.

In the painting, Zhang pictured himself sitting in a car lifted by hot air balloons, drifting from a dark backdrop into the dusk, with farmlands below.

"The contrast of the all-black and dusk background represents the transition from a dream into a fantastical world. It's part of my desire to express the possibilities of the human experience as much as I could," he says.

He stresses that the new series reflects his playful and experimental attitude and hopes it can engage the audience in narratives that spark more reflections on dreams and the human experience.

Bai Yao, a veteran art broker who curated the exhibition, says Zhang's paintings invite contemplation, allowing viewers to explore their inner worlds while connecting with the universal themes of beauty, struggle and the pursuit of happiness.

"In every piece, he masterfully weaves together the elements of nature, emotion and memory, creating a visual symphony that resonates long after the viewer steps away," he adds.

The Town Art Space was a disused multimedia center in the area and Bai worked with the area's administration to repurpose it.

"It was an open floor with a pointed European-style roof. I put up walls to turn it into a small exhibition area that also functions as a gallery and art shop while being suitable for various activities in the future," Bai says.

More works by other artists will be presented in the space, including an ink art exhibition scheduled right after Zhang's, according to Bai.

The space is an attempt to keep exploring the possibilities and diversity of artistic presentation in an urban public area.

"It will evolve into a multifunctional and hybrid art space. Visitors can appreciate original works by contemporary artists up close and purchase various art derivatives and design products, as well as watch and participate in many art exhibitions and activities," Bai says.