Fang Fang has a deep passion for depicting old houses and villas in Shanghai's former French concession.

Visual Dialogue on Expo," an exhibition featuring canvases created by Fang Fang and Paolo Sabbatini Rancidoro, is currently running at Xuhui Art Museum.

Fang, a veteran Chinese artist, and Rancidoro, an Italian diplomat and painter, show their poetic understanding toward the World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

Fang, a member of the Chinese Artists Association and director of the Sino-US Oil Painting Institute, has a passion for depicting the old houses and villas in the former French concession.

These old silent buildings, often lacking human figures in Fang's brushwork, seem to be witness to the vicissitude of the city in the past century. Every open window or door unwittingly invites the viewer to hunt for a legend for its past residents.

The phoenix trees and the lanes in Fang's paintings can be recognized by any local with a nostalgic touch.

In contrast with Fang's old buildings, Rancidoro, director of the Italian Institute of Culture of the Consulate General in Shanghai, a musician and painter, is more keen on nature.

The storm, the volcano and the wind are the natural elements he blends with Oriental mysticism.

Due to years of researching on ancient Chinese philosophy and the mysticism in both East and West, Rancidoro's paintings are filled with a strong spiritual power which is hard to explain in words.

The highlight of the exhibition is a canvas titled "Shanghai-Milano: Yin & Yang" created by both artists, implementing the two's dialogue on art under a red backdrop, the color featured in the national flags of both China and Italy.

Date: through October 24, 9am-4pm

Address: 1413 Fuxing Rd M.