A glimpse of Mediterranean gardens by Italian painter Franco de Courten will be on offer from today to October 6 at Shanghai Times Square.

Courten paints his memories of gardens from Spain, Italy, France, north Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere. The complex works include abstracts imposed upon the landscapes.

The exhibition "Mediterranean Gardens" is sponsored by Shanghai Times Square, the Italian Institute of Culture, the Italian art agency and gallery "Elle Quadro."

The opening ceremony tonight on the second floor will feature erhu music, Italian wine and delicacies.

Born in 1932, Courten started to paint at the age of 14 and has painted for his entire life. From 2001 to 2003 he created "Spells," a series of calligraphic and graphic works inspired by the charms and magical words of the ancient world, together with Paolo Sabbatini, director of the Cultural Office of the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai.

Courten's works very often reflect his life story, especially his oil paintings that are grouped into collections painted as he relived or remembered important places and events.

Juxtaposed with the curves, colors and "vital disorder" of a garden, he paints an abstract, either compatible with or dissonant to the garden colors.

"In recent months, we presented a romantic Italian violin concert by Maestro Vittorio di Lotti. This time the exhibition aims to give the Chinese audience a view of creative charming Italian art," says Cathy Hau, deputy general manager of Shanghai Times Square.