Chinese art treats at London Olympics

Fans watching the London 2012 Olympic Games can take a break from sports to have a taste of culture.

One of the fringe activities is a Chinese art exhibition unveiled at the Royal Academy of Arts in London on Monday.

Named China Arts Exhibition, London 2012, Chinese Elegant Transcending Culture, the exhibition displays 160 Chinese brush paintings, oil paintings and sculpture works of 35 modern Chinese arts masters.

"The exhibition is a showcase of contemporary Chinese arts," Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador in the United Kingdom, says in his speech.

The seven-day exhibition is jointly hosted by the China National Academy of Arts and the China Arts Foundation, with support from the Chinese Ministry of Culture, the Chinese Embassy in Britain and the British Embassy in China.

"Coinciding with the London Olympic Games, this exhibition is a perfect integration of arts and sports," says Tian Liming, deputy president of the Chinese National Academy of Arts.

He Jiaying, a famous fine brushwork figure painter, brought his painting Victory Goddess to the exhibition to extend his best wishes to London. The painting was done to mark the holding of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

After London, the arts exhibition will tour China to showcase the achievements of Chinese artists, who have followed world art trends closely.

- Zhang Chunyan

Tony Leung takes on new challenge

Tony Leung, star of In the Mood for Love and A City of Sadness, will play He Bing in The Silent War.

Leung plays the hooligan-turned-spy who is super sensitive to sound, though visually impaired.

Leung is famous for being expressive with his eyes, but this time will wear glasses. Veteran actress Zhou Xun plays his boss and love interest.

Directors Alan Mak and Felix Chong have made a number of smash hits in the espionage genre, such as Infernal Affairs and Overheard.

The film will premiere on Aug 7.

- Liu Wei

Absence brings out the best in Gardot's voice

Melody Gardot's voice wanders between vulnerability and seductiveness, though she never really takes side. In her third studio album, The Absence, which will be released in China soon, the Grammy-nominated American jazz singer makes the best use of her voice and immersed in the cultures of Portugal, Argentina and Brazil, where she visited in a protracted journey of musical discovery.

The 27-year-old also lends her voice to Edith Piaf's iconic La Vie en Rose, a song that holds a special place in her mind and imagination. It's an inspiring song, just like her connection with her guitar, when Gardot, a fashion student in Philadelphia then, turned to music as therapy as she recovered from a traffic accident that damaged her brain and fractured her pelvis and spine.

- Chen Nan

Mid-summer music festival in the outdoors

Beijing music fans will be able to enjoy an outdoor music festival without driving hours to the outskirts or to another city. Come Aug 18 and 19, Max Star Music Festival, will be held at Ditan Park, downtown Beijing.

Young pioneering music powers, such as Milk & Coffee and folk singer-songwriters Cao Fang and Hao Yun, as well as rock singer-songwriter Ma Tiao, will share the stage in the two-day event.

After visiting the music festival, guests can go to nearby Wudaoying hutong, which has a collection of shops, restaurants and cafes.

Aug 18 and 19. Ditan Park, North Second Ring Road. Yonghegong subway station, Beijing. 400-818-3333.

- Chen Nan

(China Daily 08/03/2012 page19)