Eternal Peace by Indian artist Gurjinder (LIU JIAN)

Active African artists

The organizer said that over 50 pieces from 10 African countries were showcased at the exhibit.

Martha Woldu, an Eritrean woman artist, exhibited six paintings, including Wedding Tomorrow, and The Uniqueness of Mother, which is about women, how they feel and what they think. "I come from a society where women are not equal to men, and we are still fighting for this," she told ChinAfrica. "I would like to be a mouth of all women who cannot speak."

Seychellois artist Dine Marsha drew inspiration from home and his experience in China to create his new work The Dancing Rainbow, which comprises elements of fantasy and spirituality. He believes the best way to create a work of art is to use inspiration and emotions, and a great artwork is one that leaves the viewer with questions.

Arist Coana displayed two paintings entitled The Jazz Wind. "I brought them because for me, jazz is peaceful music," he said.

The exhibit also attracted African art lovers. "It's my first time seeing so many African paintings exhibited in China," said Obiora Okenwa, a Nigerian Master's student at Beijing Language and Culture University.

Protraits of peace

There are thousands of interpretations of peace.

In keeping with the exhibit's theme, Chen Shibin, a Chinese painter and calligrapher, demonstrated his calligraphy The Chinese Manuscripts of Coubertin's Olympic Manifesto. "The Olympic Games mean much more than sporting excellence, their values of friendship, peace and universality should be spread to as many people as possible," he said.

Korean artist Ryu Il-Seon felt Mother Nature's delicate flowers best expressed the concept of peace, while Indian artist Gurjinder interpreted peace in clay with her work Eternal Peace, a sculpture with the Indian Goddess of Peace praying on a dove.

This year's exhibit was co-hosted by Presidentvilla and the China Building Decoration Association. The annual International Art Exhibition on Peace founded by Dr. S. Murad has been staged in Beijing and other cities since 2006. The organizer plans to host a fifth exhibition outside China, taking the peace of language abroad.