Chinese art exhibition underway in St Petersburg

ST PETERSBURG - The Chinese Artists' Society of Russia held Monday its second music and art exhibition at St. Petersburg's Smolny Institute, with Chinese musicians and artists currently stationed in Russia showcasing the fruit of their studies in Russia.

The exhibition featured over 100 works of art, including oil paintings, woodblock prints, watercolors, calligraphy and other Chinese art forms, as well as music in the form of solo performances, choral renditions, Chinese opera, dance, and instrumental pieces.

Local residents and Chinese students, a number of professors from the Russian Academy of Arts and St Petersburg State Conservatory visited the exhibition.

Chinese Consul-General in St. Petersburg Ji Yanchi spoke of the long history of artistic exchange between Russia and China, and thanked the current generation of Russian university professors for cultivating the talents of Chinese artists, adding that he hoped these Chinese students would go on to make their own contributions to Sino-Russian relations.

Albert Charkin, chairman of the St Petersburg Union of Artists, said "Art is one of the best means of exchange available to Russia and China."

The exhibition will last till June 2.