A visitor explores a couch at the exhibiton-Thing World at the National Art Museum in Beijing. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Thing World, a new exhibit of 58 mixed media works by artists from 22 countries, is showing at the National Art Museum of China.

The show's theme focuses on the idea that all things, although operated by humans, are independent and have formed a world of self-organization on their own.

The works invite the audience to explore things they think they know well, such as a couch, smartphones and lights. The objects even make sound, move and "breathe" with the help of computer programming.

The exhibition, the third edition of the International Triennial of New Media Art, lasts until July 7.