By 1970, Wu Guanzhong was gradually paying more attention to Chinese wash paintings. By the end of the 1970s, the artist had entered the most productive period of his career. His innovative combination of Western and Chinese wash painting was regarded as a pioneering attempt in Chinese art history. Western paintings focus more on representing the world through vivid colors, while wash paintings focus more on creating poetic ambience.

Two Swifts, Former Residence of Qiujin, and Yi Jiang Nan are three of his most notable wash paintings. These works look very similar, for they all show the outer walls of a house. However, Wu Guanzhong says they represent his development in painting.

"I created these paintings every two decades. In Two Swifts, I sketch out the house by several lines, which is a Chinese style. In The Former Residence of Qiujin, I painted the wall black to create a depressive atmosphere. Yi Jiang Nan is more abstract and simple, with only some short lines and spots on the paper. It's more Western."

Wu Guanzhong is now famous domestically and internationally. In 1992, the British Museum held his personal exhibition, the first time a museum has done so for an active Chinese painter. His works have also been auctioned off for high prices on the international market. However, Wu Guanzhong remains humble and has donated his best work to public museums. He tells why.

"The meaning of a person's life is to show his value. There are two ways to achieve this; one is to conquer and plunder, while the other is to create. I chose the latter, for creating can bring me happiness. After creation, I want my works to be passed down as long as possible. So instead of burning them with me when I pass away, I donated them to museums."

As a passionate artist, Wu Guanzhong hasn't quit painting even in his 90s. In this exhibition, visitors can see many of the artworks created in 2007 and 2008. From these paintings, people can sense that the aging artist is even more energetic and enthusiastic than before.

Many art fans who like Wu Guanzhong's unique combination of Western and Chinese painting, have tried to define his style. But Wu Guanzhong says what matters most is not style.

"I don't know what my style is. I just paint the things that touch my heart. The style of a painter is his shadow, which means it is behind him and can't be seen by the painter himself. I just care about showing my true feelings in my works. Inspiration is more important than style."

When Wu Guanzhong teaches his students, he also insists on this principle. He just teaches the students how to appreciate the beauty of the world and enlightens them to draw in their own way. In his opinion, if the students all followed his style, he should be regarded as a failed tutor.

Wu Guanzhong also points that there are many intellectuals in China who don't know aesthetics. At the same time, there are also many books with a coarsely-designed covers sold on the market. Wu says that aesthetic education is very necessary for the Chinese people, and he understands that the move will require long-term efforts from both the government and the people.