Authentic art intact

More than 800 handicrafts, priced from 10 to 100,000 yuan ($1.3 to $13,757), are tightly packed into the first floor of Tian's store.

The medium-sized shop acts as a portal to a different world, which according to him, highlights the authenticity of African art.

"Languages in Africa have largely been Westernized, with French and English the official languages in many countries on the continent," said Tian.

"However, traditional African art forms have remained relatively intact up to the present day, representing the cultural identity of many communities and becoming a source of income for local artisans.

"People who appreciate art and pursue it are even more interested in African handicrafts, hoping to find creativity in these artworks," he added.

In some Western countries, African art has a long history of appreciation and has been featured in auctions for decades, he said.

Sotheby's, the world's leading auction house, held an African art auction in London last October. A total of 81 pieces of art were sold for a combined $2.8 million.

The Art Market, one of the largest art market information websites, said that in 2022, more than 2,700 works by African artists worth $63 million were sold at various auctions, nearly double the number before the COVID-19 pandemic.

"But in our country, African art is still at a nascent stage at present," Tian said, adding that he hopes the shop can become a bridge to better connect Chinese and African art.