An exhibition of Zhao Chengmin's sculpture art was unveiled at the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) on Wednesday in Beijing and will run until April 24.[Photo/China.org.cn]

After 35 years of silence, sculptor and artist Zhao Chengmin returned to the stage on April 4 with his masterpieces of great passion.

An exhibition of Zhao Chengmin's sculpture art was unveiled at the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) on Wednesday in Beijing and will run until April 24.

More than 50 large-scale sculpture pieces surrounding the theme "Qi, Wu, He (meaning spiritual energy, enlightenment and harmonious respectively) —My Dream of a Powerful Nation" are on display in two of the museum's exhibition halls.

The exhibition consists of three parts: "Qi, Wu and He". Sculptures of war horses and generals in ancient times are on show in the "Qi" part, whereas the "Wu" part displays a group of figures, showing how emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1911) inspected their troops. The third part, that of "He", exhibits Zhao's works created with both Chinese and western conceptions of art.

The exhibition is Zhao's first one in his 35 years since leaving the prestigious China Central Academy of Fine Arts as a postgraduate in 1978.

Zhao said "this exhibition aims at presenting gifts to my college and offering a sincere academic report to my professors and various masters who are all devoted to the creation of art".

As a famous sculptor, calligrapher and painter in China, Zhao said that his works embody genuine patriotism and, in addition to that, the hopes to make his homeland a country with a powerful culture.

According to the museum, all pieces at the exhibition are on display for the first time.