French connection

[Photo provided to China Daily]

The French academy, which has 45 members now, is one of five academies under the national learned society Institute of France based in Paris. The academy promotes artistic creation in France and abroad through many forms including granting awards and funds.

A triptych oil painting by Chu Teh-chun, titled Green Energy, an in-house exhibit, is also on show in a bid to create a dialog with the other artworks displayed at the show.

The ongoing exhibition is titled Inheritance of Immortality as members of the French academy are often referred to as the "immortals" in that country, says Wu Weishan, the director of NAMOC.

Speaking about the French academy, Didier Bernheim, the curator of the exhibition and one of its "correspondent" members, or people who assist it with their knowledge and talent, says that the academy is an open institution that has no intention of imposing on viewers one or more of the artistic styles on show.

"Rather we'd like to present the diversity of creation that the academy encourages through the output of featured artists."

The evolution of modern Chinese art has been enormously influenced by Western art, especially French art.