When photographs look like paintings

Fu Wenjun's installation Postindustrial Era features five large wheels with his photos and a video he shot over many years to reveal the changes in Chongqing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The line between painting and photography has blurred in conceptual artist Fu Wenjun's works.

For nearly 30 years, he has dedicated himself to the artistic exploration of producing photos that look like abstract paintings to inspire people to think rather than simply appreciate the accuracy of images.

Fu's latest exhibition, scheduled to begin at the National Art Museum of China on Thursday, will aim to provide more insights into his art world.

On show will be nearly 60 pieces, including an installation. The artist has combination photos that are each at least 1 meter high. His works reflect a mix of Western and Eastern cultural influences.

In his Harmony in Diversity series, for example, the photo of a Chinese landscape painting is overlaid with an image of a Western-style sculpture and ancient rice paper produced in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

The 61-year-old artist says the overlaying presents a kind of similarity between Chinese landscape paintings and Western figurative sculptures－two different art forms.

Such artworks are inspired by his museum visits around the world.