The hall of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing probably isn't the first place that springs to mind. On September 3, the imposing hall opened its doors to an exhibition of contemporary Chinese paintings from southeast China's Fujian Province.

The exhibition was co-sponsored by the Fujian Provincial Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and the Painting and Calligraphy House of the CPPCC. It's part of a series of "Excellent Contemporary Chinese Painting Exhibitions" initiated by the CPPCC last year. The show features 69 works of art by ten artists. Employing a variety of techniques, the artists try to express different ideas and create different artistic concepts. Some resorted to water and ink, others preferred colors. Some paid close attention to detail, others used simple, bold strokes. The exhibition aims to display the diversity and advance of contemporary Chinese painting in Fujian province.

(CCTV.com September 6, 2003)