East meets West in vibrant paintings

Symbols, lines and blue and rose hues are seen in all of Chinese artist Hong Ming's paintings. It reminds people of the Spanish master Pablo Picasso. But something fresh and exotic differentiates Hong's paintings with a coat of oriental mystery.

The 40-year-old oil painter brings more than 20 works produced in the past two years to the Chinese culture center in Paris on Sept 27. His works for the show comprise two series: the 12 Western astrological signs and the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Hong chooses big names such as Marilyn Monroe and Margaret Thatcher, and draws them based on the characters of the Chinese zodiac signs. And in a reversal, he paints portraits of Chinese celebrities according to the Western horoscope signs.