Picasso's ceramics

The Beijing Cervantes Institute is presenting an art show entitled Picasso: Verses of Materials. On display are 27 ceramic works, 10 lithographs and illustrations for six literary books.

Most of these works, on loan from Spanish collectors, were created by the artist in 1947, when the young artists was in the midst of grappling with new methods and materials for expression, said curator Dolores Duran.

China has a long history of ceramic and ink art. Pablo Picasso, for instance, was known as a great admirer of Chinese art and culture.

The exhibition runs until Oct 31.

Brits woo young Chinese

"Have a look at what the UK has to offer you" is the message of British Summer, an online campaign highlighting the best of British sporting activities, history and events for young Chinese audiences.

The website, summer.britishcouncil.org.cn, contains interactive games and competitions, in which participants can win an Apple laptop and Wii, the Nintendo video game console.

While there is no better sporting place to be right now than Beijing, it is London that will inherit the mantle as host of the 2012 Games. In the next four years, the eyes of the world will be on China and Britain, watching Eastern and Western cultures meet against a backdrop of sporting excellence.

The British Summer campaign is being run by the British Council, operating in Beijing as the cultural and education section of the British Embassy.

Each week throughout the campaign three articles covering hot sporting topics will be uploaded to the website - these will include Olympic architecture in London and Beijing, great Olympic heroes, and an article reflecting on Euro 2008.

Artists eye champions

A group of artists is using their talents to spread news of 2008 Chinese Olympic gold medalists.

Up until now, the Internet, television and news photographs have played a major role in disseminating the Olympic news.

But a group of Chinese artists, who are closely following the Games, are churning out their own unique renditions of the newly emerging top winners.

As part of the ongoing Beijing Olympic Culture Festival, the art project was launched on August 8 by the organizing committee of the 29th Olympic Games and has attracted over 150 participating artists from Beijing.

With the television set on - the artists in their studios are simultaneously depicting the Chinese gold-winners through art - using sculpture, cartoon drawings and oil or ink painting.

The Olympic champion portraits, fresh from the art studios, will be premiered through Chinese media.

Upon the closure of the Games, a grand art exhibition will be staged in Beijing to showcase the pieces, according to a key organizer of the art drive.