Visitors will notice that his paintings often have multiple layers of colors and seemingly unfinished strokes on murky outlines.

When a child asks why he tends to leave his works "unfinished", Wang answers: "You are free when you do art. You can say the painting is completed whenever you like."

For one of his works, Wang turned a recurrent image from his childhood dreams into bronze sculptures in the shape of balloons. These artworks appear to give the half-inflated balloon humanlike postures, as if it is resting after a hard-day's work.

He then started the Red Balloon Project, taking a red balloon on his travels around the world, but then the pandemic forced him to put the endeavor on pause. He then took the balloon on a virtual journey, adding it to familiar imagery, such as Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, Picasso's Weeping Woman and the signature portrait of contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama.

Creating these artworks brought some comfort during the isolated days of the pandemic, and he hopes that they can bring "some lightness "to the viewers and provide encouragement and relief.

Just like the collective name he gave to the series Common Face, Wang overthrew the established public perception of these objects, and dispelled the authority connected to these images, creating an "easy, equal and casual" relationship with the audiences, says Yao Shuo, president of Ideal Gas and curator of the exhibition.

Jiang Jinhong, assistant general manager of The Place, says that "we are a community-oriented mall, and want to work with artists that both children and their parents can resonate with. Aesthetic education is an important part of our public service and it has become popular with children and parents".

"On the other hand, we hope to find new talented artists, and give them our support. … Hopefully one day the exhibition here can become a project listed in their artistic portfolio," she adds.

If you go

Smile: A Solo Exhibition of Wang Shaoshuai

10 am-10 pm, July 2-Sept 10.

The Place, north podium lobby, 100 Zunyi Road, Changning district, Shanghai.