Actor's talent for painting highlights show

A painting by Zhao Dan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Actor Zhao Dan (1915-80) was noted for playing the lead in many acclaimed movies, including Street Angel, Crossroads and Lin Zexu. But few know that he was also a skillful painter.

A current exhibition at the National Museum of China celebrates his talent in Chinese painting by displaying works by him and his daughter Zhao Qing, an established dancer.

In the early 1930s, Zhao studied traditional ink painting at the Shanghai Fine Art School, founded by the prominent painter Liu Haishu (1896-1994). He brushed up his technique of painting the mountain-and-water genre under the guidance of masters such as Huang Binhong (1865-1955) and Pan Tianshou (1897-1971).

Even though he shifted to acting, Zhao remained an avid painter. He portrayed the landscape of locations where his films were shoot. The paintings on show were mostly executed in the 1950s and '60s.

Zhao Qing, recognized as a pioneer of Chinese dance drama, inherits her father's passion for art. The 79-year-old only started painting in 2008. her creations are colored with enthusiasm and romanticism.

Also on show are photos that reflect the father and the daughter's dramatic life.

The exhibition runs through Sept 9.

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