Artist Han Meilin works as hard as 'aged cattle'

A sculpture by Han Meilin. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The exhibition will also show Han's designs on ceramics, metal, wooden carvings, jades and other works of art that carry the same motifs. He will install an 8-meter-high sculpture dedicated to the Venice exhibition at the university square.

"The exhibition is to tell the story of Han, a man of character who remains as vigorous as young people and who always looks for novel approaches to art," says Zhao Li, chief curator of Han's touring exhibition and a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing.

Umberto Vattani, president of Venice International University, says Han's exhibition will be "another gift from China to the West".

"Venice boasts a long history of links with the East. The connection helps to exercise the influence of Oriental culture and thoughts on the West," he says.

"The richness of Han's art, featuring vibrant color schemes and varying shapes, has taken traditional Chinese art to another level, and will arouse enormous interest in Venice."