Rayan Chaieb from the Ecole Supérieure d'Art d'Avignon in France processes materials at the Wumuchong International Art Zone.​

On November 29, the Wumuchong International Art Zone in Meitanba Town, Ningxiang, was filled with warmth as a restoration team from the Ecole Supérieure d'Art d'Avignon in France worked alongside their Chinese counterparts to carry out conservation and restoration efforts on the former coal-mining industrial site. The zone is the core industrial legacy of Meitanba, a town once hailed as the "Coal Capital of Central Hunan." The restoration work represents not only the protective revival of industrial heritage but also an innovative practice of Sino-French cooperation underpinned by the concept of ecological civilization.

Once a major coal-producing base in Hunan Province, Meitanba Town embarked on a journey of transformation from an underground resource-dependent economy to an above-ground sustainable one following the complete shutdown of its coal mines in 2014. In 2016, construction began on the Wumuchong International Art Zone, aiming to convert the mining area—home to nine well-preserved industrial buildings—into an internationally influential industrial heritage art industrial base. In April of this year, a collaborative conservation and restoration project was launched between the Chinese team and a team from France's Ecole Supérieure d'Art d'Avignon. Focusing on the scientific preservation of buildings and industrial facilities, the initiative seeks to transform the site into a cultural landmark integrating a contemporary art museum and an international artist residency park, while fully preserving its industrial historic features.

Chinese and French teams deepen understanding through cross-cultural exchanges.​

In recent years, the Wumuchong International Art Zone has connected with high-quality global art resources, establishing cooperative relationships with over ten international art institutions and academies from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Türkiye, and other countries. Since 2022, the zone has organized ten artist residency programs, attracting 20 groups of overseas artists and scholars for exchanges. "This place will become a future art center," said project initiator Liu Ke, also Ningxiang's international communication ambassador, adding that efforts are underway to attract more international artists to reside in Ningxiang and create impactful artworks.

A highlight of the current restoration work is the use of biochar technology introduced by the French team. By processing materials through oxygen-free combustion, this method reduces pollution while supporting both agricultural cultivation and artistic creation, achieving a win-win outcome for ecological protection and heritage revitalization. During the restoration process, the team has not only reviewed historical documents but also visited retired miners to discover the humanistic stories behind the site, integrating emotional value into every restoration detail. "These sites carry the lives and emotions of the miners. Conservation must balance historical authenticity with humanity," said Herve Giocanti, professor of conservation and restoration at the Ecole Supérieure d'Art d'Avignon.

Notably, transnational collaboration has already yielded diverse outcomes. French artist Sarah Venturi created a pigment called "Noir Meitanba" using coal recovered from the site's soil. Another French artist, Cyril Jarton, designed the "Meitanba Waterwheel," which has become a symbolic artwork representing Sino-French cultural exchanges within the zone.

According to the plan, the restored zone will feature core facilities such as the Meitanba Box Art Museum and the Diezoushan Academy. Every year, the zone is planned to attract around 15 (or groups) artists and 200 international university students to create works or study here.

The French team restores weathered walls at the old coal-mining site.​

The photos above were taken by Tan Shiyi from Changsha Evening News.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

责编：黄思婷

一审：黄思婷

二审：冯宇轩

三审：秦慧英

来源：长沙晚报网