What's on

Monuments in mind

Wen Lipeng, an oil painter and retired professor from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, has established a reputation for imbuing the figures, mountains, rocks and trees he depicts with a weighty, historical feeling. His subjects do not look the way they are, but more like monuments that grab the attention at first sight. In using this approach, Wen is paying tribute to the luminaries and unsung heroes who have sacrificed their lives for the public good throughout history. His method is inspired by a saying of famed poet, patriot and social activist Wen Yiduo, who was also his father: "Art is a flower blooming on the wounds of bodies and hearts." The Internationale in the Heart, an exhibition at the CAFA Art Museum, traces the evolution of Wen Lipeng's painting, and his commitment to his father's belief. Highlights of the exhibition include Internationale, a signature piece painted in 1963, and dozens of drafts of the painting, which Wen Lipeng donated to the Central Academy of Fine Arts last year. The exhibition runs until Nov 19.

9:30 am-5:30 pm, closed on Mondays. 8 Huajiadi Nanjie, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-6477-1575.

Colors of time

In 2017, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism launched a long-term program to help art institutions and artists create work that reflects major national events, activities and developments in social life, economy and culture. The 200-odd pieces that have resulted so far have been exhibited across the country, giving audiences vivid glimpses of the changes China has undergone. A selection of them is now on show at the Qingdao Art Museum in the picturesque Shandong province seaside city until Nov 19. Also on display are sketches, manuscripts, photos and videos that show how the artists conceived and prepared their work, and their journeys in search of ideas and inspiration.

9 am-5:30 pm, closed on Mondays.37 Kushan Lu, Shinan district, Qingdao, Shandong province. 0532-8288-9996.

New cultural hub

A county-level museum recently opened in Pucheng county in Nanping, Fujian province, with four inaugural shows of work by noted artists and young talent. The Pucheng Art Museum and Fan Di'an Art Museum was founded to house art donated by Fan Di'an, a Pucheng native and now chairperson of the China Artists Association, in the hope of expanding cultural offerings in his hometown. The donation includes oil paintings, watercolors and calligraphy by Fan, as well as 1,000 art publications, intended to serve as the core collection of the library that is part of the museum. A second and third show display contemporary pieces and watercolors by artists in Fujian, while the fourth exhibition is of paintings and calligraphic works by young artists who received awards during a national art contest organized by the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays.169 Mengbi Dadao, Pucheng county, Nanping, Fujian province. 0599-6020-585.