An art exhibition featuring works by renowned Chinese artist Xu Jiang opened on Dec 21 at the Shandong Art Museum in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province.

Jointly organized by the China Academy of Art, the China Oil Painting Society, the Shandong Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Zhejiang Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Ode to the Sunflowers is the largest retrospective show of Xu's works yet, with more than 300 paintings and large-scale sculptures themed on sunflowers being exhibited.

Xu has held nearly one show a year on the theme both in China and abroad in the past few years.

According to Xu, the central theme of the exhibition is sunflowers, the plants that have become a symbol for his generation growing up after World War II and after the "cultural revolution (1966-76)". It is not only about Chinese history, but also about the lives of individuals that were subjected to profound changes.

The exhibition will run until Feb 23, 2020.

Xu is president of the China Academy of Art, vice-chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and chairman of the China Oil Painting Society.

The art exhibition featuring works by renowned Chinese artist Xu Jiang opens on Dec 21 at the Shandong Art Museum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

More than 300 paintings and large-scale sculptures themed on sunflowers are exhibited. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The exhibition attracts many visitors to the Shandong Art Museum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]