What's on

Figures in city

Court ladies, learned men in desolation, and Buddhist and mythological characters were once recurring subjects of classic Chinese figure painting. But these days, classic figurative painting feels far removed from modern life, and so how to go about making it more relevant to a contemporary audience had long been an ongoing concern for many ink artists. City and Figure, an exhibition at Shanghai's China Art Museum, traces that progress through the endeavors of teachers and students from 40-odd art academies from around the country. Running until Feb 25, the exhibition is being held in the metropolis where the Shanghai School of painting worked to give ink paintings a modern twist, to make the tradition more relevant to city dwellers. City and Figure continues that exploration, integrating the ink tradition into the depiction of city life and how changes to the city are reshaping the minds of those who live in it.

10 am-6 pm, closed on Mondays.205 Shangnan Lu, Pudong district, Shanghai. 400-921-9021.

Pure and poetic

Although he received no formal training, Han Yuchen has never passed up an opportunity to improve his techniques and to seek advice from professionals. For decades, he has been painting the landscapes and people of the Xizang autonomous region, winning him acclaim. His work, which is widely exhibited, delivers purity and poetry. Now, dozens of his pieces are on display at the Academy of Oil Painting of the Chinese National Academy of Arts. They show the influence of the figurative style, and Han's own optimism, accentuated by the use of light and bright colors. Also an avid collector of classical European paintings, some of Han's purchases are on display. Pure Heart, Poetic Mind runs through Dec 5.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays.1704 Wenhua Yishu Xin Jie, Gaobeidian, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-8773-9327.

Art for children

How do children view their lives, the cities they live in and the future they hope for? The answers are vividly presented in an installation of dozens of boxes made by young artists to share their vision of the world. Folded City is on show as part of The Journey of a Seed, an exhibition organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art Yinchuan in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region to illustrate the spread of art education in northwestern China. Pieces by over 1,800 children living in cities and rural areas, including paintings, installations, videos and collaborations with adult artists, are on display, revealing the feelings, emotions and ideals of the young generation. The exhibition seeks to connect children's minds and hearts with the adult world, which may sometimes overlook the actual needs of these younger members of society. It also serves as a journey for both children and adults to find the soil to plant their seeds of hope, together. The exhibition runs until March 17.

10 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays.12 Hele Road, Xingqing district, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region. 0951-8426-111.