Getting familiar with Hockney

Lin says that the gallery also had a surprise when it announced plans to organize the exhibition.

"After we announced the theme of the coming exhibition, we received an anonymous email, asking if we would be interested in purchasing a Hockney work. It's a drawing Hockney did in 1981, on his first trip to Beijing."

The work done on a sheet of white paper, features the Forbidden City in blue, red, orange and black.

"The work hadn't been displayed until two hours before the opening ceremony of the exhibition, but luckily we got the preparation done on time," Lin says.

Hockney is also known as an artist who likes to draw using an iPad.

He got his first iPad at 73, and he quickly learnt to use it.

Hockney says that the equipment allows him to record the entire painting process and make painting an enjoyable performance; also, he sees the iPad as a blank paper with unlimited variations of size.

The young founders of the gallery, both 32, pay extra attention to the interactivity of the exhibitions they hold. Not surprisingly, five iPads are there for visitors to draw like Hockney, and the gallery will choose some of the works to display right next to Hockney's works.

"On the one hand, we serve professionals in the art world and introduce experimental and pioneering exhibitions to them. But at the same time, we hope to create an entrance to the art world for the crowd, communicating with them and using the art language that they understand," Lin says.

As for Lei Wanying, he says: "Art is a universal language. It is the best medium for people from different cultures and countries to understand each other. And through new media, we encourage young people take up art as their hobby, lifestyle, and even their direction in life."

The exhibition will run until Jan 5.