The development of technology is fast-paced, and what’s cutting-edge today will soon become outdated tomorrow. For those born in the 1980s, a Sony Walkman was a luxury they were proud of in their teenage years, but those born after the year 2000 view cassettes and Walkmans as antiques. Engineers and designers should not only rely on technology for inspiration. At Xiaomi, we believe sparks are created where technology meets art. When we apply these ideas to our research and development, we come up with better products with fine aesthetic tastes and details that are essential to craftsmanship. The end result is a better customer experience.

This was our inspiration behind the ongoing exhibition named “.Zip” presented by Xiaomi at Today Art Museum in Beijing until September 16. The exhibit is our attempt to blend technology with modern art, and is a showcase of Xiaomi’s dedication toward integrating art into our daily work.

Just as its name suggests, the exhibition will “compress all the artistic elements as a black hole in the universe,” according to Today Art Museum. In this co-presented exhibition, the audience can participate via multi-media interactions. Several Xiaomi products including Xiaomi smartphones, Mi TVs, Mi VRs, Mi Air Purifiers, Mi Robot Vacuums and Mi Power Banks help realize the artistic ideas.

One exhibit utilizes Mi VR to immerse audiences into an imaginary world, and another showcases Mi Robot Vacuums “competing” with each other in a labyrinth.

Another exhibit shows the power of the connected home through the integration between a Xiaomi smartphone and Mi TVs. Visitors can simply blow on a Xiaomi smartphone, and changes will appear on Mi TV screens throughout the room.

There’s also a piece named “E-Blood bags”, which are actually red wires. These works can help the audience reflect on the indispensable role that smartphones play in our lives, and perhaps have deeper thoughts about whether technology makes our life easier. (We also raised this question in another blog post: Ninebot Plus and our future mobility.)

Now, let’s enjoy more photos taken at the art show. If you happen to be in Beijing till September 16, you can visit Today Art Museum for this amazing exhibition. Address: 4th Building, Apple Community, 32 Baiziwan Road, Shuangjing, Chaoyang district, Beijing, China. Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Photos by Liang Shuaibin and Virginia Xu