Art beat in August

Creating artwork from food

Italian photographer Alfonso Catalano creates art from food. Michelin chefs make abstract adaptations for their recipes, and Catalano captures the image with his camera. The exhibition is aesthetically pleasing and appetizing at the same time. This is one of a series of summer events at the 101-level skyscraper in the Lujiazui area. Grab a beer or soft drink at the B1 level square and you will be donating to The Library Project, a charity initiative to establish book collections in China's countryside.

The Lingnan legacy

An upcoming exhibition at the China National Academy of Painting gallery will offer glimpses into the evolution of the Lingnan School. The school, along with the Shanghai School, emerged in the early 20th century as an important art movement to modernize traditional Chinese painting with its most representative artists from Guangdong province. Artists from the Lingnan School have historically stressed sketching and incorporated Western techniques to reform Chinese painting. Today's painters, some of whose works are on display, have built on the legacy.

9 am-4 pm, Aug 22-27. China National Academy of Painting, 54 Xi Sanhuan Beilu (Road), Haidian district, Beijing. 010-6841-1369.

Let's rock '50s style

Rock Around the Clock is a 90-minute song and dance show of American music from the 1950s. From Bill Haley's golden hit to Chuck Berry's

Roll Over Beethoven and Johnny B. Goode, Buddy Holly's Oh Boy and That'll Be the Day, the show will be like a vintage jukebox coming alive.

7:15 pm, Aug 27-28. Shanghai Oriental Art Center-Opera Hall, 425 Dingxiang Lu (Road), Pudong New Area, Shanghai. 021-6854-1234.

Finnish power

Known for powerful live shows, Finnish rock band HIM (His Infernal Majesty) is coming to Shanghai for a concert. Founded in 1991 by leading vocalist Ville Valo, the band reached its peak in the early 2000s, gaining popularity in Europe with singles, including Right Here in My Arms and Gone With the Sin.

9 pm, Aug 29. Shanghai QSW (Shallow Water Bay) Culture Center, 179 Yichang Lu (Road), Shanghai. 021-6266-1110.

Flower Goddess

This is the title of a joint exhibition by Shanghai artist Wang Yuhong and Mario Weinberg from Germany. The two artists of di erent background, sex, personality and cultural infl uence use the same medium to tackle the same theme in their work. Both have worked with traditional oil painting techniques for years and seek to explore the spiritual dimension in artistic expression. While Weinberg depicts improvised scenes, Wang presents a cultural narrative with her still life paintings.

10 am-10 pm, July 30-Aug 30, Ailing Foundation Art Space, 1F, Bund 18, No 18 Zhongshan E1 Road, Huangpu district, Shanghai, 021-6323-7026

Tree of life

Shanghai artist Yansha Zi'an has exhibited her paintings extensively at home and abroad. Her latest series about trees is on display at the city's Longmen Art Projects. For Yansha, trees symbolize the "will to live". Her depiction of a tree stretching its branches shows techniques of traditional Chinese ink art, says the show's curator Liu Enqin.

10 am-6 pm, until Aug 30. Longmen Art Projects, Suite 102, Tian'an Center Building, 338 Nanjing Lu (Road) West, Huangpu district, Shanghai. 021-6472-2838.

10 am-10 pm, until Aug 31. Ground floor Lobby, Shanghai World Financial Center, 100 Century Dadao (Avenue), Pudong New Area Shanghai. 021-6877-7878.

Flowers in oil

Flower Godness is the title of a joint exhibition of Shanghai artist Wang Yuhong and Mario Weinberg from Germany. The two artists of different backgrounds, gender, personality and cultural influences faced the same problem in their creation. Both have worked with traditional oil painting techniques for years, ready to explore the spiritual dimension in artistic expression. While Weinberg is keen to depict improvised scenes, Wang is aimed at presenting a cultural narrative with her still life paintings.

10 am-10 pm, until Aug 30. Ailing Foundation Art Space, 1F, Bund 18, 18, Zhongshan E1 Lu (Road), Huangpu district, Shanghai. 021-6323-7026.

Pop star

Malaysian pop singer Kong Leung (Michael Wong) has enjoyed popularity in the Chinese music scene for more than 10 years. The singer and songwriter is known for his lyrical melodies and sweet love songs, such as Fairy Tale and Courage, a ballad he composed for Fish Leong. Kong Leung started his singing career in 1995 together with fellow Malaysian Pin Kuan (Victor Wong) in Taiwan.

7:30 pm, Aug 30, Mercedes-Benz Arena, 1200 Expo Avenue, Pudong, 4007-339-993 280-980 yuan