Holy Mountain by Ai Xuan Photo: Courtesy of the Shandong Art Museum

It has been a decade since the Chinese school of realism was established in 2004. Monday marked the last day of the 10-day exhibition at the National Art Museum Of China, 10 Years of the Chinese Realism School, which exhibited more than 450 art works from 31 artists and demonstrated the evolution of this genre over the years.

The Chinese school of realism got its start with artists Ai Xuan, Yang Feiyun and Wang Yidong, who were later joined by the late renowned artist Chen Yifei. Expanding to include 30 painting masters over the years, this group's goal was to depict Chinese culture and tradition through Western realist styles of oil painting.

Yang Feiyun, one of the leading members of this group and also dean of the Chinese Academy of Oil Painting, explained to the Global Times the concept behind Chinese realism.

"Chinese realism portrays Chinese people and their lives, their temperament and emotions. It contains the root of Chinese culture and the characteristics of this era. With these elements, it's a very unique style when exhibited overseas," Yang said.

Wang Wenzhang, dean of the Chinese National Academy of Arts wrote in an article that many of the group's artists have already gone beyond just imitating real life and now attach more importance to presenting the lives of ordinary people and their inner worlds.