In the past it was rising stars such as Yang Yongsheng, Wang Yuhong and Xia Yan who stole the limelight. They followed in the footsteps of Zhang Xiaogang, Fan Lijun and Yue Mingjun.And this year Lei Ziren, a young ink-wash artist of precocious talent, is likely to be the star of the annual Shanghai Spring Art Saloon running from next Wednesday to Sunday at ShanghaiMart in the Honggiao area.The work of some of the finest contemporary artists from China and around the world will be exhibited at the event which shapes as a warm-up to the "art compass" gathering in September which includes the Shanghai Biennale, Shanghai Art Fair and ShContemporary.The Spring Art Saloon has attracted nearly 80 galleries, art institutions and art organizations both from home the abroad including about 25 from the United States, France, Italy, Japan and Indonesia. All exhibition booths at the saloon were sold out late last year, according to Ge Qiantao, secretary general of the organizing committee."At first we considered re-adjusting the schedule to later in September to join the 'art compass' but then we decided to stay with our original running period."Established in 2003, the Shanghai Spring Art Saloon initially appears to overlap with the Shanghai Art Fair because both are art fairs conducted at the same venue. Some have questioned whether a city like Shanghai needs two art fairs every year.artwork"But I don't think so," says Ge. "We have a different theme to the Shanghai Art Fair. We focus more on the academic level. Instead of just selling exhibition booths to earn money, we are interested in finding those Picassos-to-be out there in the public."There will be lots of attention on Lei Ziren next week. The young ink-wash artist's work reveals his use of different media in recording the folk history, culture and inheritance of an ancient Chinese village in Jiangxi Province. Lei spent about three months living in the village to present a "documentary view" through paintings, videos and sketches."The importance of Lei's art is that the artist gives us an indefinite possibility of contemporary ink-wash paintings," says Susan Xie, spokesperson for the Spring Gallery which is presenting Lei. "I think Lei is one of the few Chinese artists who focuses on tradition yet goes beyond tradition."Before Lei, the work of young artists including Yang Yongsheng, Wang Yuhong and Xia Yan was unveiled at the saloon. They have gone on to shine in the art community just like heavyweight names including Fang Lijun, Zhang Xiaogang and Yue Mingjun whose work no doubt could be found at the fair before them.With an increasing fever-pitch interest in Chinese contemporary art in the international market, some of the works of these heavyweights have been sold for astronomic prices.For example, all the paintings created by Zhang sold last year at different auctions around the world totalled almost 288 million yuan (US$41.2 million).But as well as the work of local talents, this year's saloon also has big names from the Western art world such as Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641), once an assistant to Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Both were exponents of the Flemish Baroque style.artworkA portrait titled "Sir Philip'' by Van Dyck is perhaps the most expensive piece at this year's saloon, says Zhou Li, owner of Classic Gallery."The price is over 10 million yuan. But I am quite optimistic of the market here," she says.Zhou has all the reason to be confident, as she sold a Renoir's painting titled "Fontainebleau" at last year's saloon for more than 10 million yuan."I am bringing about 50 Western classic canvas masterpieces, including work by Hans Thoma and Enoch Wood Perry (to the saloon)," Zhou adds. "Unlike Chinese contemporary art now sweeping the world, these artworks have stood the test of time. I believe there must be a group of Chinese collectors out there who love classical and elegant art pieces."Her words echo Ge Qiantao's view. "That's why we are holding the art saloon," Ge says. "Because for quite a lot ordinary art lovers, especially those with purchasing power from the white-collar set. They don't have professional knowledge so it is our mission to introduce them to art of different kinds and styles."Visitors to the saloon could find paintings, canvases, sculptures, print and photos priced from several thousand to several hundred thousand yuan."As the name suggests, a saloon will also provide a cozy and casual venue for visitors so the organizers have also arranged a "creative market" featuring an art shop, art bookstore, reading room and cafeteria on the third floor.Shanghai Spring Art Saloon will hold on ShanghaiMart, 99 Xingyi Rdand the date is April 16-20, 10am-6pm.