Former French expo pavilion opens as art museum

After 15 months of renovation, the former French Pavilion finally opened to the public today as an art museum called M21.

Hundreds of artworks from 52 artists from around the world are now on display. The debut show Cosmos will run for free until April 19th.

In Shanghai, four years on from the World Expo, the French pavilion has just re-opened as a private museum. Its first show, Cosmos, will be open to the public for free until April.

After 15 months of renovation, the pavilion finally opened to the public today as an art museum called M21. Hundreds of artworks from 52 artists from around the world are now on display. The debut show, Cosmos, will run for free until April 19.

The museum has kept a one-kilometer-long slope that runs along the inside of the building from the first to fifth floor, a design aspect that divides opinion.

"The slope is really good. I wasn't aware I'm already on the fifth floor. I walked along the slope when enjoying art works. It feels good," a visitor said.

"I think the slope isn't good for exhibitions. Visitors will lose balance when they walk down, and they may not want to stay in front of one art work displayed along the slope," said artist Lyu Shengzhong.

Museum operators say they may consider changing how they display art works, depending on each exhibition, and that could include renovating the slope for some shows.