ABSTRACT art may not be the layman's cup of tea - it doesn't lay the literal answers out for us, meaning we have to think. For many others, however, abstraction is deeply intriguing.

Five big names in Chinese contemporary art are displaying 25 abstract oil paintings at the touristy art enclave M50 (50 Moganshan Road) through January 19.

The exhibition, "Wheels of Time," is hosted by Metro Express, a daily newspaper distributed throughout city Metro stations.

The five artists: Deng Guoyuan, professor at the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts; Shanghai native Li Lei, executive director of the Shanghai Art Museum; Shanghai native Zhou Changjiang, professor and dean of the Art College at East China Normal University; Beijing-based Tan Ping, professor at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts; and Beijing-based Yang Jinsong, professor at the China Academy of Art.

Known for their pursuit of abstractionism over many years, Tan and Yang take starkly different approaches in their works.

In most of Tan's works, he only applies some ultra simple geometric patterns or small images set against a fairly bright, warm-colored backdrop, while Yang's "Bird Nest" collection currently on display features bold, heavy and massive strokes to form a bird-nest-something image in a cold, dark and gray hue.