Beijing

Icons in calligraphy

With his decades-long research on Buddhism, 58-year-old artist Gan Quan will hold a calligraphy exhibition that features elements of the religion. As the director of China Calligraphy Art Institute's Shanghai branch, he uses calligraphy to portray his understanding of Buddhism. Born in Shanghai, he studied root carving as a youngster and now combines his understanding of the traditional Chinese art form with calligraphy. The ongoing show is of Gan's artworks during the past three years.

10 am-5 pm, Jan 27-Feb 10. Beijing Yong Art Center, 2F Beijing Renmei Plaza, 7 Beixinqiao Nanxiang, Dongcheng district. 010-6478-7469

Jade in art

Liu Xiaodong's Hotan Project shows the process of jade production in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region through art works. On display are oil paintings, documentaries, photos, diaries and sketches created by the artist during his two-month trip to Hotan, which is known for its jade production. Liu observed and depicted jade miners and their lives in various media to reflect on the contradictions and conflicts between a rising local economy and traditional ways of life.

9 am-5 pm, until Feb 23. Today Art Museum, 32 Baiziwan Road, Chaoyang district. 010-5876-0600

Orchid show

The 9th Beijing orchid show features two halls displaying various varieties of orchids and the country's unique orchard culture. The greenhouse hall will show off tropical orchids; while those presented at the science and technology hall are orchids found only in China.

7 am-5 pm, Feb 3-24. Beijing Botanical Garden, Wofosi Road, Haidian district. 010-6259-1561

Shanghai

Moods of a poet

Ma Pengbo invited 32 artists from Beijing, Shanghai and Shandong province to work on the ideas and images in a poem by Li Qingzhao (1084-1155) during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The theme of the poem reflects the mood of the poet while enjoying flowers and wine.

9 am-5 pm, until Jan 29. Zhu Qizhan Art Museum, 580 Ouyang Road. 021- 5671-0742

A serpent's image

2013 is the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese calendar. Curator Li Xu invited seven contemporary artists to work on images of the animal in different media, such as painting, video games and pop culture. The participants borrow ideas from both Chinese and Western folklores

10 am-10 pm, until March 16, Life Hub@Jinqiao, 3611 Zhangyang Road, Pudong New Area. 021-5038-8378

Hong Kong

Orchestral notes

Lorin Maazel will conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's two concerts at this year's Hong Kong Arts Festival. Maazel, a highly accomplished conductor and composer, first began his association with Chicago in 1973. On the program are Mozart and Brahms, on Jan 28 evening, followed by Verdi, Mendelssohn and Beethoven on Jan 29.

8 pm, Jan 28 and 29. Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Center, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. 852-2734-2009

Legacy travels

American photographer Andre Eichman presents The Chairman and I, a travelogue of his trips across China over the past decade that involve a statue of the late Chairman Mao Zedong. Every person he came across in his journeys has a story to tell about the man who changed the course of China's history. These stories, written into the margins of each photograph, chronicle the hope and respect that Mao's legacy leaves behind.

Until Feb 7. Above Second, Ground Floor, 31 Eastern Street, Sai Ying Pun. 852-6330-7759

Macao

Wrap it up

If you are interested in learning the ancient art of Chinese book restoration, this 51-hour foundation course is ideal for beginners. A specialist from the Sun Yat-sen Library at University of Guangzhou will be a guest tutor, showing students the techniques behind bookbinding and restoration. Different binding techniques will be explored, including wrapped back binding, butterfly binding, stitch bound binding and making a protective covering case with six sides.

Feb 1-Jun 16. The Macao Institute of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Relics, 15 Rua de Vo Long. 853-6652-0191

China Daily

(China Daily 01/27/2013 page15)