Drawing a girl with a sad look holding burning houses, the painting "Give Sanan a Peaceful Country" depicts the suffering of children whose homes are being destroyed while they yearn for peace. This oil painting is from the eighth Beijing International Art Biennale, held at the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) since August 30.

Artworks from five continents 

The theme of the eighth Beijing Biennale is "a colorful world and a shared future." A total 640 pieces of artworks of 595 artists from 113 countries are shown at this event, including traditional Chinese paintings, oil paintings, watercolors, sketches, sculptures and others. 

A silk scroll painting named "Building a Community of Shared Future for Mankind" by Chinese artist Li Hongjun present a harmonious picture of human and world with the use of ink and brush.  

The subjects of some art pieces even go beyond the earth, artwork "The Universe" by Italian artist Antonino Grimaldi demonstrated human’s imagination of the universe. In this painting, an intertwining of colors gives shape to number eight as a symbol of infinite. A figure is emerging from the water, and she lit the stars around her, depicts a wish of prosperity. 

Although the theme is relatively broad and abstract, its spiritual connection is profound and extensive, providing the participating artists with wide space to creative. A visitor George Khan shared his feelings, "I feel like most paintings here show a positive subject, or the wish of a better future, which is quite appealing to me."

The East meets the West

The Beijing Biennale displays artworks from a historical, realistic and international perspective, and presents diverse artistic styles.  

For example, exhibition hall two focuses on city life and folk customs. Artworks at the second exhibition hall are from different areas and were presented in various styles but with similar subjects. The geographical boundaries are blurry, while the content of art is what audiences pay attention to.  

Chinese artworks are not only used as traditional Chinese elements like scroll paintings, but are also influenced by Western classical painting styles. Western artists also make good use of rich imagination and vibrant colors. At the same time, those artists imitated traditional Chinese ink paintings and applied it to their work. 

It is neat to see people who speak different languages are able to communicate through artworks. The Beijing Biennale provided a platform to show people from different countries that we share the same dream, love and future.  

Chinese artists have been integrated into the world and participated in the construction of a global contemporary art system, which also reflects the process of China's internationalization. 

(Cover image by Du Chenxin)