Shi Ye'er, an emerging Chinese designer from East China's Zhejiang province, introduces her artwork at the "XENO" exhibition. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Shi Ye'er, an emerging Chinese designer from Zhuji, East China's Zhejiang province, displayed her latest artworks at an exhibition in New York City (NYC), the United States from April 28 to May 5.

The "XENO" exhibition was initiated by eight NYC-based Asian designers. Originated from the Greek word, "Xenos" means foreigners or strangers. The eight-day event focused on cultural identity, loneliness, breaking silence and creating dialogues by presenting a selection of oil paintings, photography, videos and 3D installation.

Shi, one of the designers, showcased 64 pieces of portraits of New Yorkers.

"NYC is a foreign land where we have a taste of warmth and bitterness as an 'outsider', which has become our source of inspiration for artworks," Shi said, adding that her works showcase how she adapted  to her studies and life in the United States by communicating with 64 local strangers.

She also stressed that "this exhibition unveils a two-way exploration of the new and old cultures by overseas Chinese students and a new generation of Asian youth. As Chinese designers residing abroad, we have the responsibility to show fine Chinese designs to the world."

After graduating from the China Academy of Art Shanghai Institute of Design, Shi pursued her postgraduate degree in Pratt Institute, a design-oriented school in NYC.

During her graduate years, she came up with an idea to make a picture album introducing traditional Chinese cuisines after noticing that many foreigners have no idea in what to order in local Chinese restaurants.

The album with hand painted pictures of traditional Chinese food has been published.

Shi also plans to draw pictures of food from her hometown Zhuji such as Qingming Cake, a kind of cuisine made from glutinous rice and barley grass in the hope of acquainting people about the small city in Zhejiang.

A picture of a chicken feet dish is included in Shi's picture album of Chinese food. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]