A painting of the Forbidden City by Xu Shendong is part of one of the three series of his ongoing show. [Photo provided to China Daily]

In his works, he captures "inconspicuous corners that people simply overlook" or just have a quick look at for photos－red walls, yellow tiled roofs and corner towers.

Through the paintings, he gives a sense of serenity to the Forbidden City, which is typically filled with the noise of tourists.

Further, he connects the grand architecture of the Forbidden City with China's modern history.

"It is, of course, a testament to our cultural legacy. But the longer I gazed at the palaces, the extensive walls and roofs, the more I felt that they were like solid barriers to keep the country from connecting with the world at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries," he says.

Xu's early exposure to painting came from his father, Xu Yong, a retired professor of Chinese painting at the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang.

During his childhood, he often traveled with his father who did a lot of sketching across the country.

Xu was impressed by the intricately painted frescoes at the Yongle Temple in Shanxi province.