THE first painting that catches visitors'attention in the central exhibition hall on the first floor of the Guan Shanyue Art Museum is one depicting crowds watching Beijing opera and acrobatics at a festive Chinese gathering.

Painted by Beijing student Hui Yaxin, the piece captures the charm of traditional Chinese customs with the use of cartoon-like figures and exuberant colors.

The work is part of more than 400 pieces of paintings, photographs and calligraphic works by students from across the country on display in Shenzhen until March 3, as part of the Second National Arts Show for Primary and Secondary School Students.

Chosen from 1,200 pieces submitted to the event's organizing committee, the works depict daily life, folk culture and landscapes. Frequent themes seen in the paintings include folk art and Chinese traditions.

Wu Chenzhou from Zhejiang has painted a woman general in Beijing opera costumes. Kang Kai from Beijing has depicted happy villagers staging a shadow play, while Tai Changli from Guizhou has painted Beijing opera singers performing on the occasion of Dragon Boat Festival. A painting titled"Coconut Harvest"exactly resembles a paper-cut. A watercolor painting by Tao Ying from Shandong reflects the influence of traditional Chinese ink paintings.

He Yunlan, member of the Chinese Painters'Association and an event juror, praised the awareness of Chinese traditions among students as a"triumph of art education."

"Many forms of Chinese folk art have been pushed out of people's daily life with a quick economic growth and a strong impact of Western culture in a free market. It's an urgent task to carry on the traditions and teach them to the young,"she said.

"Folk art is an original and unique aesthetic expression of the Chinese people. Vivid and bold, it is good material for children's art education. If our young people cannot appreciate traditional Chinese art, they will lose the origin of their creativity. Many educators have proposed to teach traditional Chinese art to students in recent years. This show proves their efforts are not wasted."The artist also praised Shenzhen students as being"imaginative."

Of the 243 first-prize winners in the categories of paintings, calligraphy and photography, 15 are local students.

A group of nine oil paintings of landscapes by students of Shenzhen Middle School display the impressionist approach, and the use of colors reminds people of the vitality of Vincent Van Gogh. Apart from woodcut and watercolor paintings, local students also show unique forms of art like book stamps and serial paintings.

Most photographs on show are about campus life, natural scenery, and dropouts who were forced to shoulder the burden of life at an early age.

Editor: Wing