The Clown is one of the highlights of Huang He's solo show, titled Slow Time, at Being 3 Gallery. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Meanwhile, Huang He, a Beijing-born painter and a design professor at Beijing Technology and Business University－whose talent was discovered by Mianbu nine years ago－is holding an exhibition titled Slow Time. His favorite work is a portrait of a clown.

"When people think of clowns, they laugh," Huang says. "But when I see them, I feel scared. I think people in life are put on stage and forced to act the way they have to. That's why I painted The Clown."

Mianbu says, "Huang accurately grasps the hopeless petty bourgeoisie temperament and hazy gentleness, submissive mood and living standard. It seems that he is not concerned about the power of reality, but this exactly proves its sense of presence as the ideal is so elusive."

"Art to me is not that mysterious," Huang says, with a noticeable Beijing accent, citing that you can walk into McDonald's and buy a hamburger, and they give you these little puppets as a gift. "So I portray them," he says of the puppets.

If you go

Slow Time－Huang He Solo Exhibition

Four Seasons－Shivani Solo Exhibition

10 am-6 pm, Tuesday-Saturday, through Jan 12. Being 3 Gallery, Beijing No 3 Plastic Factory Cultural Park, 129 Nangao Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-5978-9875.