Works of Huang Qi. [Photo: China.org.cn]

"Prof. Hu used to encourage us to paint the complexity and profoundness of our feelings and thoughts on a single piece of paper," Huang said. She was also inspired to incorporate different elements in one painting. Under his guidance, Huang established her viewpoints of traditional arts.

"Water painting is a method for Chinese artists to express their feelings and thoughts, which are integrated into their natural surroundings," said Huang, "but its prime time was during the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties and contemporary painters find it hard to outdo their predecessors. Therefore, we need to reform."

Huang said one way to renovate traditional art is to merge the Western theories into Chinese culture. "Studying abroad has taught me to look at the Chinese paintings from different angles and although I don't use traditional ink, my paintings inevitably incorporate oriental elements," Huang said.

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