KATHMANDU: Grand is the word that best describes the painting exhibition of Chinese artist Zhao Jianqiu. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Sino-Nepal diplomatic relations, the exhibition ‘Celebrating the Trans-Himalayan Bond Ink Wash Paintings on Nepal and China’ is being exhibited at the Nepal Art Council, Babermahal from October 11.

The artist has captured beautiful natural and man-made heritage of Nepal and China in his paintings like the majestic snow covered mountains, rivers cascading down one hill to another, rural settlements of China,

Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple and more in a panoramic view.

All the paintings are huge in size and using ink wash technique with minimal colours like red, blue, green, and yellow, and extensively using black, Jianqiu has expressed his appreciation for natural and man-made beauty. Looking closely at the paintings, the lines, shades, brush strokes appear animated. But when you look at the

same painting from a distance, you will be amazed how real the paintings look and you will feel the spirit of that place

or thing.

In the painting titled ‘Blue Heaven’ he has captured a vast river flowing through its natural course where on both the sides there is greenery, huge boulders, and sand. At close view, you will see white dots in the middle of the blue and the black hues which seem useless and the strokes for the branches of the shrubs or vegetation also look like small lines. But another glance, and you will get an idea what those white spots are for — they give the effect of sunlight being reflected on the surface of water.

You will forget all your worries becoming calm looking at his enchanting mountains and landscapes.

The exhibition continues till October 18.