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Chinese Artist Beihong's Works Featured At Denver Art Museum

DENVER (CBS4) - A temporary exhibit at the Denver Art Museum features Chinese art that blends traditional styles with modern Western techniques.

"You have in your mind, I'm sure, an image of what Chinese art is," CBS4 Critic at Large Greg Moody said. "This exhibit starts with that image and goes far beyond it -- and all thanks to one artist."

Xu Beihong was a pioneer of modern Chinese painting. His exhibit opened at the end of October at the Denver Art Museum and it will be the only U.S. appearance.

"Xu Beihong is one of the best-known artists in China and his images of horses in particular are so popular that they appear on many posters, reproductions and souvenir items," said Ronald Otsuka, Denver Art Museum Asian Art Curator. "We're most fortunate to have this exhibition at the Denver Art Museum. It is the only place in the United States it will be shown."

Beihong is known primarily for his ink and paper paintings of horses. He also loved to paint fierce birds of prey. After extensive study in Paris he began to include a European influence in his work.

Beihong traveled extensively, capturing many international personalities. His goal was to provide a new style of Chinese painting by taking old traditions and strengthening them with adding Western influences wherever and whenever possible.

Xu Beihong
Xu Beihong (credit: translate-chinese.org)

It is a ticketed event, but general admission plus the ticket price gives visitors the Xu Beihong exhibit plus "Threads of Heaven" and the entire Denver Art Museum. Xu Beihong: Pioneer of Modern Chinese Painting will be on view through Jan. 29.

LINK: Denver Art Museum's Xu Beihong Exhibit

- Greg Moody is CBS4's Critic At Large. His reports on CBS4 News are featured on the CBSDenver.com Entertainment section.

- Also, don't miss Moody's entertaining bio, his Top Spots in Denver lists, and his frequently updated Moody's Picks page.

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