Painter Li Keran commemorated at exhibition

A painting exhibition commemorating famous modern Chinese painter Li Keran (1907-1989) will be held in the National Art Museum of China on August 7, 2013. A collection of Li's personal paintings and those from the Li Keran Art Academy, established a year ago, will be on display. Particularly apt at water paintings, Li was considered a distinguished artist by bringing this traditional art form into the modern era amid the fall of the "Middle Kingdom" in the post-Opium Wars (1839-1842, 1856-1860) era. He was among those artists who worked resolutely towards the revival of Chinese art. His motto, "Embrace courage and paint for the soul," accompanied his life-spanning career and paved the way for him to become the Chinese water painting master. The exhibition will close on August 19, 2013.