An exhibition presented by renowned sculptor Li Xiangqun and painter Wang Yigang in the Bonn Museum of Modern Art in Bonn, Germany, earlier this year has put the Chinese artists in the limelight.

With the theme of "selfless state", the artists expressed their feelings and thoughts through imaginative sculptures and conceptual abstractionist paintings.

Ren Rong, art director at Bonn Museum of Modern Art, said he had strong faith in the two artists and the exhibition would have a visual impact on visitors in Europe.

Li, born in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, now serves as the dean of the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, Liaoning province. Both of the provinces are located in Northeast China.

After he graduated from the art school in sculpture, Li taught at the Academy of Arts and Design in Tsinghua University in Beijing for almost two decades.

Later, he returned to Shenyang to take the new office at the art school where he spent his youth.

"Rome was not built in one day; Northeast China still has a long way to go in the pursuit of arts," Li said.

"To rejuvenate Northeast China, we cannot rely on industry and economy alone, but also need a cultural renaissance."

Li said culture is the soul of a country or region and that the economy is its reflection, adding that culture can play an important role in helping countries or regions to develop.

"Some systems and concepts in the region are still and stiff like solid ice. They need to be melted by the warmth of art," he noted. "Once the concepts and systems become flexible, we can rejuvenate the economy."

The cultural industry is part of the modern service sector, and can lead to profound economic benefi ts, he said. "After we make innovation a key driver of the local economy, we can achieve economic growth, structural reform and industrial upgrades."