Spanish artist Ripoll??s

The sun-drenched fields of Spain are well known for their wine, but they've proven equally as fertile when producing art. Ever since the renaissance, the country has been producing artists including Goya, Picasso and Dali. This artistic pedigree holds true even today, and Beijingers are now able to glimpse the wild art of Iberian Peninsula artist Juan Ripoll??s, who is featured heavily in a series of activities being held by the World Art Museum for Children's Art Week, which kicked off on May 31.

Jointly curated by the World Art Museum and the Spanish Embassy, the exhibition features 86 of Juan Ripoll??s' artworks in total. Made from a variety of materials like metal, paper, cloth and glass these works include engravings, oil paintings and sculptures, which showcase the artist's versatility. Spanish artists are well-known for their creative use of colors, and Ripoll??s has continued this proud tradition. Courageous combinations of red, green and orange provide stark contrast.

Ripoll??s weaves influences from many schools of art. Glimpses of impressionism and post-impressionism shine through in these pieces, though the individual symbolism in each piece remains clear. Shades of cubism can be spotted in the images of distorted faces and bodies, while the simplified contours and fantasy-inspired imagery creates a childish beauty.

Juan Ripoll??s was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1932. He moved to Paris in the 1950s and started his artistic career in 1958. After spending his youth in Paris, he returned to his hometown but often hosted exhibitions overseas.

Beijing is the first stop on Ripoll??s' exhibition tour of China. Over the coming 12 months he and his works will visit Shandong, Hubei, Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces, to celebrate the upcoming 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Spain in 2013.

Ripoll??s said he is "delighted" to have the chance to visit China. "Maintaining world peace needs effort from every individual who speaks the same language: culture. We cultivate culture like farmers cultivate crops, and as long as all of us remain focused on this, we will make this world more beautiful," he said.

When: Until July 15

Where: Beijing World Art Museum, The China Millennium Monument, No.9 Fuxingmenlu, Haidian district

Tickets: Free (ID required)

Contact: 5980-2222

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