BEIJING, March 8 -- Zou Wei, a Shenzhen-based painter, is a rare local success among contemporary Chinese artists. His works, numbering about 100, have all been sold to private collectors or galleries in China and abroad.

    These include the "Maiden's Boudoir" and "Flying People" series of paintings, which he created in the last two years.

    An exhibition of Zou's works, including about 20 paintings from the recent "Flying People" series, is being staged at the Shenzhen Free Art House (SFAT) as a highlight of its open month in March.

    "Over the past two years, it has been a painful process for me to search for my peculiar art language as well as a painful journey to fulfill my cherished dream of being a professional painter," said Zou, 40, a painter with the SFAT and a teacher at the College of Arts in Shenzhen University.

    After three years of study at the Lepin Academy of Art and one year at the oil painting department of the Russian State Pedagogical University (RSPU) in St. Petersburg, Zou obtained a master's degree in art from the RSPU in 2004.

    When Zou left for Russia in 2000, he had planned to stay in Russia for two years to study Russian realism and to travel around Europe for another two years to study European modern art.

    "In fact, Russia is probably the only country around the world today which has preserved and promoted the tradition of realism," Zou said.

    "I was so fascinated by the Russian realism and classic art that I finally gave up my plan of further study in other European countries," he said.

    During his stay in Russia, Zou became the first Chinese painter to have his works displayed at the prestigious annual joint exhibition of the Russian Artists Association in 2003 and 2004, and the first Chinese student to stage a solo painting exhibition, in June 2004 at the RSPU. He was also commended by the Ministry of Culture through the Chinese consulate in St. Petersburg.

    Having accomplished much in Russia, Zou returned to Shenzhen in Oct. 2004 with the belief that he could become a professional artist and live well by selling his work.

    "But as soon as I came back, I realized the classic training and realist techniques I acquired in Russia was out of date," Zou said.