Late last month, Beijing’s famed 798 Art District welcomed the work of contemporary Cuban artists in a rare exhibition of art from the island. Presented by the Xin Dong Cheng Space for Contemporary Art, the exhibition Cuba Avant-Garde marks the 50th anniversary of Cuban-Chinese relations. Showcasing such artists as Lázaro Saveedra, Abel Barroso, Sandra Ramos, and Roberto Diago, the work ranges from painting and sculpture to photography, video, and installation art, with pieces by well over a dozen artists.

In an article appearing on the Global Times website, entrepreneur Cheng Xin Dong hailed the exhibition as “the first time someone has done this here in China,” noting that “Cuba is at the beginning of change now, and the politics between Cuba and China are changing also. That’s why now it’s the best time to hold this exhibition.”

Artist Roberto Fabelo, who attended the exhibition opening with his wife and father-in-law, found the trip to China intensely inspiring. “This is not just another country, this is another world,” he told the Global Times. “I want to be here, not just with my eyes open, but also with my mind open.”

Cuba Avant-Garde remains on view at the Xin Dong Cheng Space for Contemporary Art through December 31.