Monet makes deeper forays

[Photo provided to China Daily]

To cater to the Chinese market, the show gives a lot of exposure to three of Monet's paintings－Impression, Sunrise; Water Lilies and The Japanese Bridge and Woman With A Parasol. These are Monet's three best-known works in China, according to a survey.

The Monet show is the second such program of Western masters in China, following last year's Van Gogh Alive produced by an Australian company.

Also, last year, the Van Gogh museum said it would bring another such show to China this year.

"I think the market for such shows on Western masters can run for the next 10 years. This is because Chinese demand for cultural and art shows is growing," says Hu.

Unlike many Westerners who have received art education since childhood and visit museums often, the Chinese are just starting to go to museums and developing a sense that they need art in their lives, says Hu.

That's why she decided that the first stop for Monet's show in China would be the second-tier city of Chengdu, the panda hometown, rather than Beijing or Shanghai, where people are bombarded with many art shows and performances.

"Residents in Shanghai and Beijing have many choices when it comes to cultural life, but people in second-tier cities have very few choices," says Hu.