[Photo provided to China Daily]

Seal of approval

In 1933, ink artist Qi Baishi achieved a major breakthrough in art and began to garner fame in the cultural circles of Beijing. Also a noted seal-making artist, he once carved out four characters on a seal, zhiji you'en, which means remembering the kindness from best friends. This anecdote inspired curators at the Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy, an institution famous for its rich collection of Qi's works, to mount an exhibition focusing on Qi and those in his close personal circle. The ongoing exhibition, Kindness from Bosom Friends, will run through Jan 31 and shows artworks which are a testament to the support Qi received from six people, who helped the master artist progress and innovate, or introduced his art to wider audiences.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 12 Chaoyang Gongyuan (Park) Nan Lu, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-6502-5171.

Variations in performance

Bass-baritone Shen Yang's art song concert will feature a program of pieces by Ludwig van Beethoven, including The Last Rose of Summer, from variations on six folk tunes for flute and piano, and Russian folk song, Beautiful Minka, from variations on a Russian folk song for flute and piano. Flutist Gergely Ittzes, pianist Konstantinos Valianatos, violinist Julia Glenn and cellist Yeonjin Kim, will perform at the concert.

7:30 pm, Dec 4. National Center for the Performing Arts. No 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.