Black, white and the grey scale are in full expression in Beijing at an exhibition at which Chinese and Japanese painters are celebrating a common tradition. The exhibition of ink and brush paintings is part of an exchange program between the arts communities of the two countries. It opened at the museum of Beijing Art Academy on Monday morning.

There's a unifying quality among these art pieces that seem to brim over with vitality. The 91 works by 91 artists all employ ink and brush. The finished pieces are called "Guohua" in Chinese. In Japanese called "Nanga". These works always evoke association with landscapes and natural settings - painted spontaneously with a minimum of brush strokes.

The 41 works done by Chinese artists capture different landmarks of the ancient capital Beijing. From the imperial palace to the residential courtyard of the common people, the paintings offer a panorama of Beijing's ancient and modern looks.

The 50 Japanese paintings are full of mesmerizing Asian charm, even as purely decorative works. Different painting schools and styles are clearly defined here. The deep roots of Zen Buddhism extend outward. Many of the works carry specific terms from the Japanese language.

The Japanese Nanga paintings boast a history of a thousand years. The tradition follows three mainstreams of Chinese, Japanese and Western movements.

It's the seventh time such an exhibition has been held. The two countries took turns holding the six previous exhibitions, since the event's inception in 1982. The annual gathering become an important platform for in-depth artistic exchange between the two countries.

Mathita Taisen, director of Japanese Nanga Art Academy, said, "Such an exchange has built an instructive platform. Both Japanese and Chinese art have been strongly influenced by the western art. We all learnt from others and both of us should also make exchanges in terms of techniques and artistic notion."

Yang Yanwen, director of Chinese Art Committee, said, "Traditional Chinese paintings have marched forward with the modern era. It took on a totally different look. Such exchange allows the Japanese artists to grasp the changing pace of Chinese art. On the other hand, the innovation in paper and media have made the Japanese art stay ahead of that of Chinese. So we would learn from them."

The show runs at the museum of the Beijing Art Academy until next Monday.