Dreamscapes cast in shadow

Graduation capstones

Zhao Meisheng still paints with vigor and creativity at age 88.

His third solo show at the National Art Museum of China displays dozens of mountains-and-water and flowers-and-birds paintings, as well as calligraphic works.

Zhao says of his seven-decade art career: "The pursuit of beauty and striving are like twin brothers." He went from drawing cartoons and comics to Chinese-style painting in the 1960s. He also taught himself Western painting techniques. The artist rose to fame for his flower-and-bird motifs, especially those of plum blossoms.

9 am-5 pm, no admission after 4 pm, until Dec 13. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6400-1476.