SSRScientific and Social Research2661-43322981-9946Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing Pty. Ltd.10.26689/ssr.v8i9.15782ArticleBuilding Cultural Identity through Public Art Landscapes in Cross-Border Cooperation Zones—An Empirical Study Based on the P-I-I Model in Hengqinhttps://artdesignp.com/journal/SSR/8/9/10.26689/ssr.v8i9.15782ChenXi,YiErwu,WangSining2026892026-10-21This study investigates the mechanisms of cultural identity construction through public art landscapes in the Hengqin Guangdong-Macau Deep Cooperation Zone, a distinctive cross-border policy space under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework. Through fieldwork covering over 30 public art nodes and employing theoretical sampling alongside semi-structured interviews, the research systematically examines the spatial configuration and symbolic characteristics of Hengqin’s public art landscape. The findings reveal two dominant thematic threads—the dialogical symbiosis of Chinese and Western cultures, and the bidirectional empowerment of cultural heritage and innovation—manifested across a “point-line-area” spatial framework. Based on empirical evidence, the study proposes a dual-layer theoretical framework: a design-oriented “Visual Translation–Emotional Resonance–Identity Construction” strategic framework, and a recipient-centered “Perceive–Interpret–Identify” (P-I-I) analytical model. The P-I-I model diagnoses that while explicit symbols achieve high perceptual accessibility, they often falter at the interpretive stage, and metaphorical expressions frequently fail to resonate with diverse audiences. The study concludes that visual juxtaposition of symbols does not equate to shared meaning, and that effective cultural integration requires designing for the complete perception-interpretation-identification chain. This framework offers both a theoretical tool for evaluating public art in policy-driven urban spaces and practical implications for cultural governance in cross-border cooperation zones.Public art, Cultural identity, Hengqin Guangdong-Macau Deep Cooperation Zone, Cross-border cooperation, P-I-I Model, Cultural integration

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