Beijing

Being Chinese

Thermos flasks, red-blue-and-white bags, erguotou (white liquor), embroidered banners, electronic mosquito swatters which of these is most representative of China? Here's your chance to delve deeper into articles of common use in China.

The 120 objects displayed in the exhibition Chinese Stuff purport to show the nation's evolution by relating these objects to their cultural contexts.

10 am-5 pm, Sept 10-Oct 10. LD Design Center, 94 Dongsishitiao Street, Dongcheng district. 010-5297-8555

Insurance collection

A grand exhibition is being held at the National Art Museum of China to mark the 15th anniversary of Taikang Life Insurance Corp. On display are about 60 works of Chinese art, ranging from revolution-themed woodblock prints of the 1942, and experimental inks of the 1980s to the latest video, performance and installation pieces by young artists, from the company's art collection.

9 am-5 pm, until Sept 7. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district. 010-8403-3500

Scenes from life

Henan Provincial Artists Association chairman Ma Guoqiang is holding his solo exhibition of ink paintings, that span four decades. Ma has traveled extensively seeking inspirations from the different local cultures of the country.

Most of his vivid figure paintings depict the average Chinese - from ethnic groups and PLA soldiers, to monks, craftsmen, and farmers.

9 am-5 pm, until Aug 29. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district. 010-8403-3500

Artistic reform

Shandong artist Kong Weike's figure painting exhibition starts on Friday at Gallery of Rongbaozhai Art Store.

On view are about 50 of his latest works, including his portraits of the reformists of the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and Sun Yat-sen, leader of the 1911 Revolution.

9 am-5 pm, until Sept 1. 19 Liulichang Xiejie, Hepingmen, Dongcheng district. 010-6303-5279

Shanghai

Jazz piano concert

Canadian pianist and composer Michael Kaeshammer will give a concert. The program will include his most popular songs such as On a Saturday Night from the album No Strings Attached, Comes Love from Strut and Cinnamon Sun from Days Like These. Kaeshammer, 34, started by studying classical piano and later turned to Jazz music.

7:30 pm, Sept 11. Shanghai Oriental Art Center, 425 Dingxiang Lu. 021-6854-1234

Contemporary classic

American pianist Peter Serkin will perform works by Arnold Schoenberg and Beethoven. The 64-year-old has been a concert musician since he was 12. He has performed around the world with leading orchestras and conductors. He is also committed to modern music, having premiered or been the dedicatee of many new works by contemporary composers.

7:15 pm, Sept 10. Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 Renmin Avenue. 021-6386-8686

Free spirited art

Free as Wind is an exhibition of about 30 oil paintings by young artist Luo Dan. Born in 1981 to Luo Zhongli, an acclaimed artist and president of Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, Luo has constantly sought to break free of his father's influence and has found his voice in depicting rock 'n' roll concert scenes.

10 am-6:30 pm, Aug 20-Oct 30. Longmen Art Projects, Building 23, 515 Fuxing Zhonglu. 021-6472-2838 Ext 101

Suzhou

New ink works

Critics and artists in China have been struggling to define an identity for Chinese inks in the contemporary art scene. Chinese Sceneries, which will present works from such masters as Wu Guanzhong and Liu Guosong as well as the younger generations of artists, is an attempt by curator Xiang Liping to take this quest one step closer to conclusion.

10 am-5 pm, Sept 9-March 9, 2012, except Mondays. True Color Museum, 219 Tongda Lu, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. 0512-6596-8890