Angela Occhipinti displays her paintings and lithography works in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Italian artist Angela Occhipinti conveys through her works a sense of uncertainty about the future, particularly the fate of humans. But at the same time, she also suggests a positive attitude of embracing the unknown with love, which is a recurring motif of her creations.

"Although love sometimes hurts, it helps people better understand others," says the 83-year-old retired professor of the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera, in Milan.

During her long career, Occhipinti has largely worked on painting and lithography.

"Painting is like writing a novel while lithography is like a poem. Painting feels like Chopin's music while lithography feels like Beethoven's."

Occhipinti is showing the two approaches of communicating with the world at her second solo exhibition in China, currently being held at Beijing's Riverside Art Gallery.

Titled Angela Occhipinti, the show displays several of her large paintings, a lengthy handmade book－works of art in the form of a book－and lithographs.

Her signature Constellation series of paintings unfolds the mystic imagery of the universe.

With gold powder, she draws shooting stars to represent the occurrence and disappearance of illusions in people's minds. In Yellow River and Life, another series, she attempts to interpret how ancient Chinese viewed links between heaven and Earth, based on her several visits to China.

Her forceful brushstrokes on large color blocks give an immensity to her works.