Cai Yaling's installation Red Sea uses more than 100,000 crystal beads to create a giant tidal wave. She planned for visitors to be able to walk through the red tide made by the crystal beads. However, when it was finished, she found that, due to limitations with the materials, visitors can only really appreciate it without physical interaction.

"It's like an invisible wave under the water. But the tide will finally come," says Cai, adding that the pandemic will be over and things will get better.

The Ocean Flower Island Museum opened to the public in February and lifted the curtain on its debut show on May 20. The show will run through Dec 8.

Xun Jingyuan, director of the museum, says that the venue is designed to provide more spiritual enjoyment on the artificial island, which was built for amusement as part of Hainan province's plan to become a free trade port.

It's also the first contemporary art museum in the island province. Xun says that tourists will be able to spend their holiday both on the beach and enjoying fine art.