Different strokes

An international array of artists experience and get inspired by Hangzhou.

The landscapes and the lively scenes of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, a fine-tuned combination of the natural and man-made, traditional and modern, have provided a group of foreign artists lavish material for thinking and creating.

Via a weeklong "Silk Road Artists' Rendezvous" program in late November, 84 artists from 83 countries have created works that embody mountains and rivers in and around the city, the green, golden and yellow leaves on the trees glittering in the sun, and the traditional dwellings with white walls and black-tiled roofs, presenting the charm of their elegant simplicity.

Some of them drew inspiration from historical artifacts — jade in particular — found at the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwestern Hangzhou that dates back more than 5,000 years, while some cast their eyes on everyday life — the delivery riders and their scooters, snack bars, couples and singletons.

"The artists have connected their own cultural characteristics with Chinese culture and cultivated a wonderful experience," said Yu Xuhong, director of the Art Museum of the China Academy of Art, on a guided tour of an exhibition in Hangzhou on Dec 3, where around 150 pieces created by these artists during the trip were displayed.