Work by Zhuang Yucong, vice president of the Fujian Artists Association, is included in the exhibition. Devoted to impressionistic painting style, Zhuang picked a duo of aigrettes as the centerpiece of his painting.

It depicts the two birds standing in a pond side by side, with one slightly titling the head into the sky where a setting sun shines its dim light through the cloud. The pond is nestled by stones in various shapes.

Watercolor painting by Zhuang Yucong, vice president of the Fujian Artists Association. [Photo by Wang Yuke/chinadaily.com.cn]

"I intended to express the integrity of human and nature, which echoes the personality of Quanzhou city," said Zhuang. "Quanzhou in itself is blessed with natural views including mountains, rivers and plantations. The easy accessibility of natural landscape encourages the locals to accept everything from nature as part of their life," Zhuang explained.

Aigrette, in Zhuang's eyes, is an imaginative symbol of gracefulness and purity, which mirrors the natural beitu and simplicity of life in Qunzhou.

His work also serves as a reminder of his childhood spent in villages of Southern Fujian where has plentiful rivers and lakes.