The Dafen village has grown to be one of the most sought after art markets in the globe. The art market at Dafen started in 1989 when a painter from Hong Kong formed a community of artists. Initially the art market was a home business where a handful of painters were involved in recreating famous oil paintings. Today, however, the area extends up to 4 miles with more than 800 galleries exhibiting the reproductions.
Although Dafen is known for the replicas of classical European artists like Van Gogh, Monet and Da Vinci, there are other collections of artwork available as well. The original paintings are sold at an affordable price and most of the artists are those who are trained in art academies and institutions in China.
The entrance to the village is marked by the statue of a hand holding a paintbrush. It is easy to access the area because they don’t charge an admission fee and the stores are open till late evening. The best feature of the Dafen village is the commissioned work you can purchase. The artists are willing to create a painting according to the style, era and colour range you prefer. It is a unique location to be in since there are a lot of activities you can do here. Purchasing art is only one element of this place as you can even get your portrait sketched by a street artist, buy art supplies, you can even bring a copy or a picture of what you want painted and the artists will comply.
The best time for visiting Dafen village is during the weekdays as on the weekends it is crowded and noisy and not the ideal setting for browsing through the art work. One issue you might have when approaching the stores is the language barrier. Some of the artists only speak Cantonese so try and be specific about what you want. Visitors can even bargain for a piece they like, the marked prices are only an indication of what is expected but the artists are willing to reduce the amount.
Dafen is a picture paradise where one can get lost in the colours, the aroma of the paints and canvases. It is a great place to spend an afternoon when in Shenzhen. Visitors, who are interested in looking for a place to stay in the surrounding area, can check out Shenzhen serviced apartments. Such comfortable Shenzhen apartment accommodation provides you the luxury of working at your own time and pace. Ascott Maillien Shenzhen is a favourite among tourists because it is conveniently located and includes amazing views of the countryside.
Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Fritzjames Stephen. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.Google+
