Diversity, dynamism and openness are central to an art exhibition that opened on Friday at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing ahead of next week's Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations.

Themed "Shared Inspiration", the exhibition includes 130 paintings, lithographs and sculptures by artists from 41 countries. It runs through May 26.

It is one of several exhibitions staged under the framework of the Joint Exhibition of Asian Civilizations that celebrate the inaugural dialogue, which opens on Wednesday.

The bulk of art works on show are from the collections of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Art Museum of China and the China Artists Association.

Classic Chinese ink paintings, oil paintings, prints and sculptures are on display showing the shared roots and distinctive features of Asian civilizations and promoting a spirit of understanding, respect and mutual benefits.

Wu Weishan, director of the National Art Museum, said the exhibition encompasses long-standing aesthetic views held dear by Asian artists. Works are characterized by a highly poetic and expressive approach that is given full expression in the brush strokes or sculpting techniques of the artists on show, Wu said.

A section of the exhibition shows paintings by eight Chinese artists that depict the lotus, a favored motif of traditional Chinese art symbolizing peace, harmony and integrity.

Wu said the works not only portray the pursuit of nobility and spirituality in Chinese cultural tradition but address the modern context in which openness, immensity and fusion are valued.

In 2009, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism launched a project to invite artists from the Middle East and southern and southeastern Asian countries to China. So far, nearly 200 artists have participated, producing works during the trip and after returning home.

Some of their creations have been collected by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and a selection of them are displayed at the current exhibition, showing varied perspectives on China's landscapes and diverse cultures.

The exhibition also shows how Chinese artists see nature and culture in other parts of Asia, and the evolution of Chinese people's take on the world over the past century.

"This exhibition tells stories of an invigorating Asia, by which the audience can experience the beauty of differences," Wu said.

linqi@chinadaily.com.cn