Musculinity meets tenderness is one way of looking at an exhibition that just opened the National Art Museum of China. Next, we meet two prominent Russian artists, one of which was has a profound interest in Chinese literature, and the other carving animals, and their the works that were inspired.

24 oil paintings by Valentin Sidorov and 34 sculptures by Andrey Kovalchuk are on display in Beijing at the National Art Museum of China. Among them, 12 have been donated to the museum, becoming permanent collections there. It's a testimony to the friendship and cultural exchanges between China and Russia.

WU WEISHAN, DIRECTOR NATIONAL ART MUSEUM OF CHINA "The exhibition combines tenderness and masculinity, as well as purity and solemnity. It presents a symphony of power and beauty which can bring viewers a lasting pleasant feeling. The two artists offered to donate a total of 12 creations to our museum, including five oil paintings by Sidorov and seven statues by Kovalchuk. They embody the fruits of cultural and artistic communication and profound friendship between China and Russia. I believe the exhibition and donation will exert an even greater social impact, and will have a profound influence on the human exchanges between the two countries."

The two artists have successively served as the President of the Union of Russian Artists for a combined length of 33 years. And both of them were present at Sunday's opening ceremony of the exhibition.

Sidorov's works are predominantly lyrical, always centering on the idyllic life in the rural areas of Russia. The 91-year-old holds a fervent love for the land and rural life. His creations are by no means simple paintings of landscapes, but are an artistic form of his observations, memories and reflections.

VALENTIN SIDOROV OIL PAINTER "I was attracted to Chinese literature from a young age. At the end of the Second World War in 1945, a Chinese poetry anthology was published in my country. I read the poems by Li Bai, Du Fu and Wang Wei. I love them and identify with their meanings. The sky, land, rivers and mountains described in the works coincide with my paintings!"

Kovalchuk has created more than 60 sets of magnificent monumental sculptures with impressive modeling and smooth lines. He always made a point of ensuring harmony between the works and the surroundings.

ANDREY KOVALCHUK SCULPTOR "I love carving animals, such as mammoths. They became extinct about 10 to 30 thousand years ago. I create them to remind people, especially our children that nature is so fragile and that we should care for ecological issues."

The exhibition also marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Russia. It runs through August 11th. 

SW, CGTN.