SKP-S, a new retail wing at an upscale mall in Beijing, has garnered attention for incorporating artistic elements into customers' shopping experience since it opened a month ago.

Many of the items in the space are not products for sale, but part of a permanent exhibit free to visit. The "future farm" is the main installation on the first floor of the department store, featuring clones of robotic sheep that move in a lifelike manner. This is just one part of the exhibition themed around life on Mars, which winds throughout the whole building.

The new method of store design, combining art and business in a fresh way, has gained the newly opened SKP-S department store a lot of customers every day. "I think it's really good to see an exhibition while shopping. It saves me ticket money," said one visitor. 

Some have even come from afar to see the fresh business model. "I came all the way here from Shanghai to see the combination of art and commerce. I think it's a good idea to choose the theme of future and science for the installations. It's trendy. Just like we see more and more creations in products' design rather than functions, they are good examples of blending art and business," explained one visitor.

A digital clock that moves at a high speed, interactive penguins and a human being talking to an AI entity about the construction of a new Mars base: Everything seems abnormal and irrelevant, but anything makes sense on another planet. Sometimes you can't be sure whether you're a customer or a visitor.

Consistent designs can be seen in public spaces, different shops and even individual product holders. Many say it has changed their definition of shopping, but they are also glad to see art being exhibited in this way.