????Anna Zhao ????anna.whizh@yahoo.com ????MORE than 260 oil paintings by Russian artists are exhibited in Hall 6 to show visitors exotic landscapes, still-life paintings and figure drawings. ????The exhibition showcases for the first time the works of artists from the St. Petersburg Artists’ Union, said Andrey Bazanov, chairman of the union’s oil painting section. Exhibited works also feature artists from the St. Petersburg Institute for Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, which is participating in the ICIF for the sixth consecutive year. ????“It is so amazing that Shenzhen has put so much emphasis on cultural and art development,” said Bazanov. ????Alexandr Zastavskiy, a teacher with the institute, said the ICIF has showcased a wealth of art forms that are treasures for the city’s cultural development. ????He said Shenzhen’s fair is of great importance to Russian artists, because they get experience not only in art creation but also exhibition. “In addition to bringing our works to this exhibition, I have a good chance to closely observe traditional Chinese paintings,” Zastavskiy said. ????ICIF organizers said Russian paintings gain popularity each year, with transaction values totaling nearly 10 million yuan (US$1.6 million) last year — a significant increase from the 1 million yuan in Russian art’s premiere at the ICIF in 2008. ????Shenzhen is seeking further cooperation with Russian art institutes, and negotiations for teaching exchanges are under way between Russian art institutes and Shenzhen University. | 