Philippe Bouvet, a French artist in China

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When it comes to France, people usually think first of its fashion or gourmet food. But the country is also renowned for theater and art.

Philippe Bouvet came to China in the 1990s for the first time and decided to return later to provide Chinese audiences with authentic art performances – whether it be French classical music or Chinese folk songs.

"A nice space without a soul is just an empty place," said Bouvet, the director of La Plantation International Art Center.

Many see him as the soul of the art center, which is located in an abandoned industrial factory. And in his center, which has now been open for ten years, he likes to show his visitors different genres of art.

"I see any kind of artists coming here as the same, they are paid the same – the stars as the beginners. And my point is to hold concert(s) that I like, with people I trust," said Bouvet.

His first travel experience in southern China almost two decades ago inspired him to return. He called it a mysterious country back then. He brought some French art with him, and on the second floor of his center, he hung some paintings and other pieces by artists including Servane Cayeux and Michel Haillard.

Furniture, hand-made by French artist Michel Haillard, is displayed in La Plantation International Art Center. /CGTN Photo

Some are quite exquisite and took weeks or even months to create. Others seem to be crude or even disorganized but, as Bouvet says, you can still get a sense of their power.

"I try to present many different kinds of art in the same theater, so it's like classical maybe 60 percent, jazz 20 percent, 10 percent of contemporary dancing and 10 percent of children's shows or new circus," he said.