Old letters by more than 30 historical and cultural figures in the late 19th century and the 20th century, such as Liang Qichao, Xu Beihong, Zhang Daqian, Lu Xiaoman, Qi Gong and Zao Wou-ki, are on display at the “A Clock Stopped” exhibition, showing these figures’ love, friendship, temperament and affection through their private dialogues.

A visitor walks past an array of old letters displayed at W.ONESPACE. Photo from W.ONESPACE

Letter writing is such a personal, thoughtful form of communication which comprises observations, stories and words of emotions that often come right through. The intimacy of an old handwritten letter surpasses history books.

The exhibition title, “A Clock Stopped,” also hints at a slow-paced life in the days without mobile phones and the internet.

In writer and painter Lu’s letter to her sociologist friend Tao Menghe in the late 1920s, she expressed her care for her poet husband Xu Zhimo, asking Tao to bring winter sweat pants to Xu; in painter Zao’s letter to Swiss editor and graphic art collector Nesto Jacometti in the early 1950s, Zao disclosed his life and painting experience in Paris and invited Jacometti and Zao’s teacher Johnny Friedlander to write articles for his new exhibition.

Dates: Until May 30

Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., closed Mondays

Booking: 2668-8709

Venue: W.ONESPACE, inside Sea World Culture & Arts Center, Nanshan District (南山区海上世界文化艺术中心内万一空间)

Metro: Line 2 to Sea World Station (海上世界站), Exit A