Ji Shengjiu's Handiworks Exhibition opens today at the Capital Library and shows until July 31.

The exhibition comprises 16 origami works and photographs of animals made of vegetables that he made during the 1980s.

Qiniandian (the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, pictured), one of the origami works, is a reduced scale representation of the real one in the Temple of Heaven. The rows of tiles on the roof of the hall adopt the gongbi style (traditional Chinese fine-brush painting) and were stuck together one by one, impressing visitors with its refined techniques.

Besides paper-made models of ancient Chinese buildings like Qiniandian, Yueyang Rostrum and Watchtower of the Forbidden City, modern ones such as the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube are also showcased in the exhibition.

All the origami pieces are made of white paper. According to Ji, the color white allows leeway for the viewer's imagination.

Captured in photographs, animal models made of vegetables like cucumber frogs, green-pepper dogs and bitter-melon parrots, vividly interpret the abstract beauty of art.

Born in 1950, Ji makes these pieces in his spare time.

July 18-31. The exhibition center of Capital Library. 88 Dongsanhuan Nanlu, Chaoyang district. 6735-8114 ext 2102

北京市朝陽區東三環南路88號

(China Daily July 21, 2009)