Xiamen New Vision by Fan Di'an, chairman of the Chinese Artists Association. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]

An art exhibition featuring renowned artists' sketches and paintings depicting the landscapes of Xiamen opened at the Xiamen Federation of Literary and Art Circles Art Exhibition Hall on Dec 18. The exhibition is open to the public free of charge until Jan 3, 2025.

The event follows a "painting and then exhibiting" approach. From Dec 10 to 17, 40 top artists from across the country participated in sketching and painting activities in Xiamen, marking the largest themed sketching and painting creation event nationwide. During the days of sketching and creation, the artists tirelessly immersed themselves in their work, with many expressing that Xiamen’s beautiful scenery makes them want to just keep on painting

Out of the 263 sketches and paintings created during the event, 139 are being currently being exhibited. These works vividly interpret the beauty of Xiamen's ecology, history, culture, urban development, and daily life. The exhibition represents an important branding activity for the new image of Xiamen, showcasing the city's efforts to actively promote deep cultural and artistic exchanges and significantly enhance its aesthetic standards.

The artworks showcased at the exhibition capture a diverse range of themes. Some pieces reflect the rich history of Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, while others depict the fresh and innovative development of Xiang'an New City. There are also representations of the lush scenery of Yundang Lake and Junying village, showcasing ecological civilization and new rural construction efforts.

Furthermore, the exhibition features unique perspectives on the botanical landscapes, natural scenery, and cultural landmarks of Xiamen Botanical Garden.

These artworks are far from simple replicas of Xiamen's natural landscapes and cultural landmarks. They represent the deep love, affection, and profound insights of artists towards this city, showcasing the vitality and vigor of Xiamen's Chinese-style modernization efforts. Through these high-quality masterpieces, the public can further understand, appreciate, and fall in love with Xiamen.

Ms Da from the Xiamen Photographers Association said after viewing the exhibition: "By looking at Xiamen through the eyes of renowned artists, we can see the differences in how they and we photographers perceive the city. The use of large color blocks in those paintings is truly striking."

The art exhibition featuring renowned artists' sketches and paintings depicting the landscapes of Xiamen opens on Dec 18. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]

One work vividly depicts Bagua Mansion (Eight Diagrams Mansion) on Gulangyu Island. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]