Two paintings with a dark empty background have caught the attention of visitors to the Songzhuang Contemporary Art Archive in Beijing since this month. They are works by Chinese artist Hang Chunhui, who says he wants to redefine relations between certainties and uncertainties.

"In fact, the frame is a painting, while the central part, which is supposed to be the (content of) painting, is not," Hang explains. "Yet, the central part can present the content that will be caught and reflected by the glass surface, which somehow reverses relations in the work."

Hang's works are among more than 100 artworks on display at an exhibition on the theme of "moving forward with a clear mind" that opened to the public at the Songzhuang Contemporary Art Archive in Beijing.

"Moving forward is happening in the art circle of today," Hang says.

He believes his work offers a new perspective toward traditional painting, which can be counted as a way of moving forward.

The Beijing exhibition aims to showcase the unique connotations and zeitgeist of contemporary art, as well as reflections on the changes of the times.

It will run until Feb 19 (not open during Spring Festival).

"We hope to convey the artistic spirit of 'moving forward', 'paying homage' and 'never giving up' through different presentation methods of contemporary art exhibitions," says Bai Yao, who initiated the exhibition that showcases contemporary artworks by more than 40 artists in China.

They are put into three categories: figurative and expressive, abstract and material-based, and cartoon and trendy.

"Many contemporary artists are forging ahead, and things have not been quite optimistic for many art markets," Bai says.

"We are targeting the current state of this era, and the artists we invited for this exhibition have presented their works in the era after the pandemic," Bai adds.

Many of those works were a result of the artists' contemplation after being exposed to the impact of metaverse and new media, he observes.