Figure themes

A hermit fishes alone in the cold winter; a scholar enjoys a private moment in his study to appreciate the porcelain he has collected; women of a well-to-do family play with puppies in a hall richly decorated with cultural objects — recurring motifs in the figure style of classic Chinese painting. In his works, ink artist Huang Huasan renders a modern touch to these themes.

Huang's ongoing exhibition A Straw Shows Which Way the Wind Blows at the National Art Museum of China reflects his endeavors in the figure paintings of traditional style. The works exemplify his attention to detail, conveying poetic emotions. The exhibition ends on Nov 15.

Huang studied plastic arts in Germany, which taught him how to blend color applications and a contrast between the light and shadow of Western art into his creations.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6400-1476.