CHENG Zhi Hua (Tiezu)'s second solo exhibition at City Art Gallery (CAG)
Sdn Bhd (ground floor, The AmpWalk in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur) ends
tomorrow.

The China-born 47-year-old artist majored in Geosciences Sketch
(Structure Sketch) at the China University of Geosciences in 1978. After
taking an advanced course at the China Academy of Art, he became the art
editor at the academy, from 1986 to 2002.

In 2002 he turned full-time artist and was selected from a group of 100
artists from Zhijiang, China for a TV interview by the Zhijiang province
TV channel.

(Incidentally, Cheng, together with gallery owner Mary Tang, were among
the first to donate to the Malaysian Tsunami Disaster Fund, set up by the
New Straits Times and Berita Harian. He gave RM2,000 from the sale of his
works).

CAG co-owner Vincent Sim said: "We invited Cheng to display his works -
most of which are Chinese ink painting pieces focusing on landscapes -
here as part of the 30th Malaysia-Sino relationship celebrations. His
compositions are mainly atmospheric, invoking feelings of gigantic and
magnificent inspirations."

Cheng found inspiration when he started geosciences sketching of the
rocky mountains in China in 1976. This deep impression drove him to study
Chinese ink painting in the evenings while working as an art editor during
the day.

In his preparation for this exhibition, he trekked for about a month to
study the best spots and angles to paint his masterpiece Cheng Tang Jiang
(river source).

After many sketchings and staying in a village at the border between
Chan Sun district and Khai Hwa in Zhejiang, he painted this 143cm by 216cm
piece in 10 days.

Viewing hours for the exhibition are from 11.30am to 6.30pm. For
details, call 03-2775-3933.