Cities are often described through their landmarks, but what gives them character is usually something less obvious. It emerges through layers of architecture, culture, people, traditions and ideas that accumulate over time.

This piece was inspired by the challenge of capturing Shanghai in a single image. Rather than focusing on one location or view, the dial combines elements drawn from across the city; different artistic styles, architectural influences, historical periods and cultural references compressed into a miniature collage.

The composition takes inspiration from cubism, allowing multiple perspectives to exist at once. Details that would never normally appear side by side are brought together within the same frame. Traditional and contemporary influences overlap, reflecting the way Shanghai itself continues to evolve while retaining traces of its past.

Viewed up close, the dial becomes almost microscopic. Small details emerge and disappear depending on where the eye settles, much like the city itself. The longer one spends exploring Shanghai, the more layers seem to reveal themselves.

No single artwork can fully capture a city of this scale and complexity. Instead, this piece offers a fragmented impression; a collection of influences, memories and observations brought together to form a portrait of a place that continues to reinvent itself.