An painting exhibition titled "Classical Gardens and Parks" was held in China National Art Museum. This year's exhibition is only one of the serial shows to be held annually from this year until 2008, to unveil the cultural and artistic charms of Beijing city, as well as to add color to the 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing through the brushes of painters.

An un-missable experience when traveling to Beijing is a visit to the city's classical gardens and parks, such as the Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan Park, Beihai Park, Coal Mountain, Zhongshan Park, etc. They're usually seen as symbols of Old Beijing. That's one of the reasons why paintings being exhibited in the China National Art Museum focus on the classical gardens and parks of Beijing.

Beijing is an ancient city with over 8,000 years of history, of which 850 years have been as the country's capital city. Moreover, Beijing has successfully won the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, with one of the slogans being a "Culture-enriched Olympics". It's with such thoughts in mind that the sponsors planned to showcase paintings focusing on scenes in the capital.

By doing so, the organizers hope to unveil the long history and rich culture of Beijing and to add color to the Olympic Games through the brushes of painters, since they have planned to hold 6 such exhibitions annually from this year until 2008. Though all focus on Beijing City, the themes of every show will be different. For example, next year's exhibition will focus on the imperial palaces and the Great wall, titled "Recollecting the Old City".

Wang Mingming, the chairman of the Beijing Art Academy, explains that there are altogether 75 works by 50 painters. They have been selected especially for the exhibition by a committee founded solely for that purpose. 

Wang Mingming said, "Within certain parameters, the painters are free to express their unique style based on their particular understanding of Beijing city. But they should be able to reconcile the contradiction between art and reality. The exhibits here show the artists have been very successful in this."

Yang Yanwen, another famous painter, said, "The exhibition this year is the result of two-years of preparation. In painting, artistic thinking usually takes a considerable time. To paint is not to make blueprints, but to express the artist's feelings on the subject."

Yang explained one of his works on show thus: "The painting titled "Lianlizhi, the Consort Cypress" is a scene in the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City. I imagine the picture as two lovers opening up their arms to embrace each other. And so the branches of the cypresses are painted extending as if flying, to express lovers' strong feelings."

As a visitor, on hearing the artists' explanation, one can stand by this painting and contemplate the images. We may find more in the paintings than the real locations can reveal. That's exactly the power of art.
 
(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2003)