When it comes to the Maldives, people often think of the country's beautiful scenery. But what about its art and culture? Two artists are sharing the artistic creativity of the Maldives by presenting their art works in China's capital.

The event showcases over 80 pieces of artwork from two Maldivian artists. The works address issues of climate change, plastic pollution and nature preservation. They also show the beauty of the Maldives' natural landscapes and how people are all connected and face similar challenges in addressing global concerns. It is the first large-scale art exhibition held by Maldivian artistic talents in China. 

Ahmed Amir brought his 35 oil paintings to the event. The artist said he was inspired by the natural beauty and exotic surroundings of his homeland. And Afzal Shaafiu, a well-known artist in the Maldives, said he got his inspiration from ocean junk. 

The exhibition kicked off May 17 at the China International Cultural Exchange Center. It comes at the same time Beijing is hosting the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations. 

Mohamed Faisal, the Ambassador of Maldives to China, said at the event: "The purpose of this exhibition is to extend this dialogue. You know Maldives is very famous for its tourism, but the Chinese people know very little about the Maldivian art and culture. So we are bringing Maldivian art here and we are creating a dialogue of culture between China and Maldives. This is something we have been trying to do for a long time. For us, the most important message we want to give is that Maldives has very thriving art and secondly there is a bridge of culture and art that can bridge the two countries." 

The ambassador also said they will introduce more gifted Maldivian artists to China and pointed out that the more people come together, the greater the understanding will be between people, cultures and civilizations. 

The exhibition will run until May 22. 

(Top image: Works by Afzal Shaafiu are on display at the exhibition. /CGTN Photo)