Two Peacocks, Ya LiTwo Peacocks, Ya Li

As the world celebrates women next week, two female artists – one Chinese and the other from Malta – will enter into a dialogue about nature, humankind and the cosmos.

In an exhibition of paintings at the China Cultural Centre, Valletta, Ya Li’s vast spaces contrast with Catherine Cavallo’s humanity.

Ms Cavallo destroys the precarious balance and produces strain, stress and tension, and the world she paints is imperfect compared to the perfectly ideal one created by Ms Li, according to curator E.V. Borg.

Ms Li’s expression is poetic and delicate, where nature predominates, while humans, perhaps diminutive, are present without intruding.

Her work emanates a contemplative and meditative feeling, and there is a kind of empathy with nature.

Meanwhile, with Ms Cavallo’s work there is a great effusion of emotion, a strong, vigorous, palpitating movement, a hustle and bustle of people, a thronging crowd of seething humanity. Human beings dominate nature and space in the work, Mr Borg explains.

Haifeng Woods, Ya LiHaifeng Woods, Ya Li

The exhibition Nature, Man and the Cosmos – Dialogue between Ya Li and Catherine Cavallo – is one among the China Cultural Centre’s Women’s Culture Month events.

The fine art exhibition is being held in celebration of international Women’s Day, which falls on March 8.

Displayed at the China Cultural Centre on Melita Street, Valletta, the exhibition will be open to the public from March 9 until March 20, between 9am and 12.30pm, and 2.30 and 5pm from Monday to Friday. Entrance is free.

Fixing Nets, Ya Li, oil on canvasFixing Nets, Ya Li, oil on canvas

Celebrating L-Imnarja, Catherine Cavallo, oil and charcoal on treated paperCelebrating L-Imnarja, Catherine Cavallo, oil and charcoal on treated paper

Study for Beach Scene, Catherine Cavallo oil on canvasStudy for Beach Scene, Catherine Cavallo oil on canvas

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