The overseas exhibition tour for Feng Shaoxia's "Maritime Silk Road" oil paintings will debut at the National Gallery of Thailand in Bangkok at the start of July. Feng Shaoxia is the vice-president of the Guangdong Academy of Painting and is a renowned oil painter in China.

A total of 40 themed oil paintings will be on show throughout the month. After being displayed in Bangkok, the next stop of the tour will be Malaysia.

The exhibition is the first to display a series of oil paintings on the theme of the "Maritime Silk Road" in China. Many of the paintings were completed in the last few years. They are remindful of the folklore, customs and trade and culture exchanges along the ancient trade route.

"In China's art history, paintings on maritime trade are rather sporadic," noted Chen Lvsheng, deputy director of the National Museum of China. "Feng is the first painter in China to present the theme systematically."

Chen said that Feng's works help to make up for the lack of image records in "Maritime Silk Road" history.

"Guangdong played a dynamic role in the ancient Maritime Silk Road. As a native of Guangdong, I think I should manage to connect my artistic works with local history," Feng said.

A press conference for Feng Shaoxie's "Maritime Silk Road" Oil Painting Exhibition is held at the National Gallery in Thailand on June 9, 2015. [Photo by Li Mangmang/Xinhua]