Young artist Ruan Huachao grew up in a traditional shikumen (stone-gated) house, treasures the past and evokes 1920s and 1930s Shanghai in his black-and-white and sepia-tone oils, writes Wang Jie.Art student Ruan Huachao is only 23, but unlike his peers, he isn't pursuing trends, flash or animation. Instead, he paints old Shanghai in whites, grays, black and sepia tones.His first solo exhibition - solo shows are extremely rare for students - is underway at Deke Erh Art Center through December 27.Blurred silhouettes of pedestrians and outlines of old buildings evoke daily street life of the past. His impressionistic works have the feeling of the old days as seen in archive photos and documentaries."I read lots of material of the 1920s and 1930s, and looked at old photos and postcards," says Ruan. "I try to imagine myself living in those old days as an ordinary citizen in Shanghai." He lets his brush roam with his thoughts as if following the trail marks of history. With the filtering of time, the buildings and people become obscure, unpredictable and mysterious.Ruan is in his fourth year at the Fube Arts College of Shanghai University, and he knows what a solo show means to an art student."I am very lucky," Ruan says. "Unlike my peers, I am not that interested in pursuing trends, flash and cartoons."Ruan, who was born in Shanghai, grew up in a traditional shikumen (stone-gated) house. He says the experience of living there greatly inspired him. "I miss those days when life was tranquil," he adds.His teacher Wang Jieyin, vice chairman of the Shanghai Artists' Association, observers: "There are tens of thousands of students learning painting today, but very few are truly devoted to it. Ruan has a fascination for oil painting and has even turned his sitting room into a studio. He reminds me of my heyday as ap young art student."Ruan appears to have a quiet personality, and speaks modestly about his art. "I don't think much about the future, as it will come to me inevitably," he says. He thinks he might like to continue studying art in France, like some art students in the past.