An artist's take on life

Ongoing exhibition at the National Art Museum celebrates the career of preeminent flower-and-bird painter/artist, Fang Chuxiong.

Babbling brooks, peaceful courtyards, atmospheric bamboo groves and fierce animals on grassland are all rendered through the deft brush strokes of Fang Chuxiong, a noted figure in the flower-and-bird genre of classical Chinese paintings, presenting an animated world that salutes the diversity and dynamics of nature.

Hailing from Guangdong province, Fang, now 71, carries forward the figurative brushwork and lively spirit of the Lingnan School of painting, also called Cantonese School, which originated in the southern province in the 19th century. Meanwhile he renders to the style a contemporary touch, providing his audience with a serene moment and mental comfort amid the urban hustle.