Chinese artist to present demonstration through Nov. 16 at Lentz Center

Xu Yinsen, professor emeritus at the Chinese National Academy of Fine Arts, will demonstrate his skills in painting, calligraphy and seal carving this week at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Lentz Center for Asian Culture.

The demonstration by Xu (pronounced shoo) will be 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 11-15 and 1:30-4 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Lentz Center, 1155 Q St. Distinguished artist-in-residence at the Lentz Center this week, Xu will also present a lecture, "An Introduction to Chinese Painting and Calligraphy," at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in Room 15 of Richards Hall, T Street and Stadium Drive. All activities are free and open to the public and are presented by UNL's Confucius Institute and the Lentz Center.

Xu is prominent in the art of seal-cutting, a unique form of traditional Chinese art that was once listed along with calligraphy, painting and poetry as one of the four essential skills required of a scholar. He also studied Chinese painting and calligraphy and excels in bird and flower paintings, especially plum blossoms and orchids. The exquisiteness of his work lies in his subtle way of depicting such universal themes as life and love through his profound rooting in the basic skills of painting. Xu's calligraphy is well known for his unique style and his proficiency in five categories of Chinese scripts.

A professor for more than 30 years at the National Academy of Fine Arts, Xu has authored and edited many books on seal cutting and Chinese paintings. He is a member of several prestigious art organizations, including the Chinese Calligrapher Association, the Chinese Xi-ling Seal Cutting Society, and the Chinese Association of Flower-and-Bird Painters.

The Lentz Center for Asian Culture is dedicated to the enrichment of knowledge and understanding of Asia and is the only museum in Nebraska devoted solely to Asian art. Its unique collection provides an opportunity for enhancing instructional programs on the UNL campus, as well as enriching the cultural environment of the citizens of the state of Nebraska. For more information, telephone (402) 472-5841 or visit www.unl.edu/lentz.