Ocean and desert meet in Xiao Jibo's latest exhibition

Though the ocean and the desert poplar may seem unrelated, in the artistic world of Shandong artist Xiao Jibo, they are closely intertwined. He has been revisiting these two subjects, through which he sees beauty, inclusiveness, greatness, and the spirit of perseverance in nature.

Xiao's ongoing exhibition, Azure and Gilt, at Zhongbai Gallery in Weifang, Shandong — held as the Weifang International Kite Festival enters its 43rd edition — features more than 50 oil paintings from his Ocean and Desert Poplar series.

Working in oils, Xiao integrates the loose, carefree strokes of the xieyi (drawing the spirit) style of classical Chinese painting, using a deep blue color to imbue his seascapes with a sense of mystery, while his portrayals of the desert poplar forests pay tribute to the tenacious vitality of life in harsh environments.

The exhibition runs until May 18.