How to paint a pretty picture

Zhang Zhaoda dreamed of becoming China's greatest painter when he was a little boy.

But, along the way, those dreams broadened out. Years later, the poor child from southern China's Guangdong province has expanded his artistic talent to the realm of fashion. Today, he is known as one of the country's most prominent fashion designers.

"For me, painting is in my bone, and fashion designing is in my blood," said Zhang. "There are no boundaries between these two art forms."

Zhang's work can be seen this month and next through his personal exhibition titled Zhaoda Art Show at the Beijing International Copyright Trade Center.

Dozens of his oil paintings and clothing designs are on display, which offer a retrospective look into the art master's career.

Drawing inspiration from history and fantasy, Zhang's paintings and collections incorporate underlying ethnic tones. Widely recognized landscape and patterns belonging to China provide crucial motifs for Zhang's work.

The artist is also recognized for his rich palette, which includes pure whites, darker tones of brown and jade, bright red and the shining yellow of imperial Forbidden City. All colors are emphasized by a series of amphibious purples, grays and deep blues.

Zhang's fascination with ancient styles of construction have further encouraged him to make lavish use of symmetry, bias-cutting, pleating, carving, lace-trimming, embroidery, fagoting, sequining and beading in his collections. These techniques, combined with pure innovation, have enabled Zhang to fuse traditional culture with cutting-edge fashion.

Exhibit runs May 31 to June 10 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Second floor hall of the Beijing International Copyright Trade Center, Jingguang Business Center, Chaoyang District.

朝阳区东三环京广中心国际版权交易中心二楼大厅.

(China Daily 05/31/2008 page6)