German artist Markus Lupertz. [Photo provided to China Daily]

While his paintings are contemporary art, he still talks to the traditions and culture, such as the Greco-Roman, the Renaissance hidden in his pictures, says Shao Yiyang, associate professor of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Lupertz says he loves the lines of Chinese traditional paintings and Chinese sculptures. He believes that abstract painting originated in China.

Apart from being an artist, Lupertz says, he is interested in writing poems, listening to jazz and eating good food.

The artist is even inspired by his own appearance when modeling his sculptures. "Do you see those figure sculptures on display? I made them based on me," he laughs.