An ongoing exhibition at the Crafts Museum of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, examines the development of three decades of mixed-media painting in China.

Mixed-media painting is a modern form of painting that uses nontraditional materials as its medium. It combines materials such as newspapers, metal and burlap with paint through techniques like collage and cutting. This approach breaks the limits of traditional painting and incorporates characteristics of both static painting and installation art.

In 1995, the China Academy of Art was a pioneer in launching an undergraduate major in mixed-media painting, centered on "materials as the core and cross-genre approaches as the path". This initiative launched an experiment in the reform of higher art education aimed at breaking down the barriers of traditional disciplines.

Xu Jiang, vice-president of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, says the exhibition showcases the pioneering journey of 30 years of mixed-media painting at the academy.

"It highlights the contributions of several generations of teachers and students, who have innovatively used mixed materials in painting and reflects the creative transformation of Chinese folk life and culture," he says.

The exhibition will run until Dec 28.