Picture of Marilyn Monroe by Hong Ming.

Symbols, lines and blue and rose hues are seen in all of Chinese artist Hong Ming's paintings. It reminds people of the Spanish master Pablo Picasso. But something fresh and exotic differentiates Hong's paintings with a coat of oriental mystery.

The 40-year-old oil painter brings more than 20 works produced in the past two years to the Chinese culture center in Paris on Sept 27. His works for the show comprise two series: the 12 Western astrological signs and the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Hong chooses big names such as Marilyn Monroe and Margaret Thatcher, and draws them based on the characters of the Chinese zodiac signs. And in a reversal, he paints portraits of Chinese celebrities according to the Western horoscope signs.

"How to match the features of the Chinese zodiac animals with the Western celebrities one to one was hard for me when I created the series," says Hong.

The picture of Marilyn Monroe, for instance, is associated with the tiger from the 12 zodiac animals. A wisp of curled hair, flaming lips, a top hat and skyscrapers are symbols related to the sexy Monroe and her life experiences. Under Hong's brush, the symbols are combined with the tiger－both "elegant and wild".

As for the match of the Chinese famous figures and the constellations, for example, the artist uses Libra to represent Confucius, the well-known Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC). Both of them, Hong says, share common characteristics of wisdom, modesty and universal love.

Hong has been exploring his own style for 20 years. He admits with candor that he has absorbed a lot from Western art masters like Picasso, Joan Miro and Balthus, as well as successful Chinese oil painters Xu Beihong and Zhao Wuji. That's why his works are abstract with bright colors.

"He (Hong Ming) emphasizes combinations. His works are between abstract and reality. On how to learn from the West and combine it with our tradition, Hong is moving in the right direction," says Lu Hong, art director of Shenzhen Art Museum.