Photo: Li Hao/GT

The Dos Xinjiang Art Festival started in Beijing on Wednesday with the participation of 50 Xinjiang artists, as well as Xinjiang residents of different ethnic groups, to allow visitors to explore a real approach to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Ma Xing, director of the event, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the art festival aims to enrich people's impression and understanding of Xinjiang. 

The festival invites 50 artists who were all born in Xinjiang and have contributed to share the beauty of their hometown through different art forms, including music, film, painting as well as photography.

The age gap among these artists is huge. Some of them were born after the 1990s, while others are over 60 years old. However, Ma said that all of them are very supportive of the event.

"Displaying a real and vivid Xinjiang is a wish for all of us," Ma said.

The first exhibition showcases photos and paintings, including works from Ma Hailun, a young Chinese photographer, about Kazakh brides and cowboys.

The paintings also attracted visitors. Most of the paintings portray images of Xinjiang residents, wearing traditional costumes of their ethnic groups, smiling happily.

Zhang Yonghe, born in Xinjiang in 1960, and Rexidan Eli, an influential female Uygur artist, sent their works to the exhibition. Zhang has held many personal exhibitions in various cities such as Beijing and Shanghai and is considered part of the first generation of modern Xinjiang artists.

DONIS, a young graffiti artist, painted a whole wall in the art festival showing a Uygur girl and highlights of Xinjiang. He was present at the opening ceremony on Wednesday evening to complete a graffiti work at the scene.

A team called Hunters of Meteorites, made up by members from five ethnic groups in Xinjiang, brought the falling stones with different shapes to the art festival, including meteorites found in Altay prefecture, a treasure house of meteorites, the team leader, Hanger, told the Global Times.

Musicians from different schools and young film directors will offer an evening show until May 4.

Sanubar Tursun, one of the most famous Uygur folk singers in the world, will perform at one of the five concerts. Additionally, Xinjiang band JAM, which means union in the Uygur language, will also perform on stage using traditional Uygur instruments.

The Beijing leg of the art festival is being held at the Beijing Auto Space. The festival, organized by Gaotai Gallery based in Urumqi, Xinjiang, will tour to major cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province and Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province.