Artist paints a picture of his times

Wei's comics are another highlight at the exhibition to show his acumen in addressing social issues. It was grounded on his keen interest in acquiring information of different social sectors, through extensive reading.

In an article in memory of Wei in 2009, Xu Bing, a noted artist who studied and taught at CAFA, remembered that back in the 1980s, he saw a lot of Wei in the school's small reading room, deep in concentration flipping through books and magazines.

"He sat there, and everything around him became quiet, … he was so into reading that it seemed he was invisible to the passersby, and not a thing in the world could disrupt him at that moment," Xu Bing wrote.

"He was never a painter who created works to awe. But always, his work delivers intelligence and a sense of calmness."