As one of the most important projects in 2011 Chinese Cultural Year in Italy, Chinese Contemporary Master Paintings Exhibition sponsored by National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) was opened at Venice Palace in Rome on June 22.

In NAMOC’s collection of hundred masterpieces by six Chinese masters such as Ren Bonian, Jiang Zhaohe, Qi Baishi, Pan Tianshou, Huang Binhong and Li Keran, this exhibition provides an interpretation of surpassing spirit to modernity beyond tradition. It is the first time that those works have traveled from China to Europe and brought abundant visual appreciation and profound spiritual reflection. Under the theme “Beyond Tradition”, this exhibition focuses on self-accomplishment out of inheritance with and struggling against the traditional arts. The 100 paintings fall into three categories of Figure, Flower and Bird and Landscape, which correspond to Figure, Landscape and Objects, the three themes in western classical paintings. As to time of creation, it extends from middle or late 19th century to middle or late 20th century, which coincides with the development period of western contemporary art campaign.

Reportedly this exhibition will close on September 15.