Italian artist's works show influence by Chinese monk Shi Tao

[Photo by Wei Xiaohao/China Daily]

Caracciolo visited the ancient gardens of Suzhou in East China's Jiangsu province during Spring Festival this year and experienced the charm of Chinese landscape painting.

"It was like walking into a Chinese scroll painting. I can now easily understand landscape paintings I see in Chinese museums," she says.

Caracciolo came to China with her husband, Eric de Rothschild, for the first time in 1988.

They visited the grottos of Dunhuang, a world heritage site in northwestern Gansu province. The couple has also set up a winery in Penglai in Shandong province.

"I will take some calligraphy classes in China," she says, adding she would want to apply the philosophy to her future works.

Caracciolo often plays Italian opera and other music while working.

Everything she touches becomes art, says Rothschild.

"She couldn't live without art. And the great thing is that her art evolves," he says.

Rothschild says that, when they met for the first time, she picked up a stick and made it into a piece of art. That made him feel she was the one.

As a couple with lots of art collections, Rothschild says he often gets suggestions from his wife on what pieces to buy.

Now that they come to China frequently, Caracciolo says she is considering buying works by young Chinese artists.

She has been working in France to support talented but less-recognized artists from China.

Caracciolo says she hopes there will be more chances for her to present her works in China.

If you go

11 am-9 pm, through March 31. The Temple gallery, 23 Shatan North Street, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-8402-1350.