A seminar on the art of lacquer paintings will also be held during the exhibition, which runs through Friday.

The exhibits were selected from 600 lacquer paintings from around the country, including Hong Kong and Macao, according to organizers.

The tradition of lacquer painting can be traced back to 7,000 years ago in the Hemudu Neolithic site in east China's Zhejiang Province. However, lacquer painting was only formally classified as an art of painting to be staged at the Six National Fine Art Exhibition in 1984.

Many of painters also use other materials such as gold, silver, bronze, wood and jewel to enhance the artistic effect of their works, which have aroused growing interest from among domestic and international art circles.

(People's Daily November 24, 2002)