The Forbidden City in Beijing fascinates whoever gets close to it, especially a French artist who has drawn pictures of the palace in his eyes and showed them in an exhibition here Monday.

The exhibition of Ink Paintings by Charles Chauderlot opening in the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong is part of the serial events of the French Arts Festival 2005, which was held annually since 1993.

Being the only foreign artist with the exceptional permission to draw pictures freely in the Forbidden City, even in some areas closed to the public, Chauderlot grasped the chance to work from morning till late afternoon. And the 62 pictures he chose for this exhibition is part of his work in the royal palace.

In his black and white paintings, the palace, the temples, the old trees and the golden river are all alive with poetic tunes. The French artist explained to Xinhua that his style of painting is a combination of both Western and Chinese techniques.

Living in Beijing since 1997, he is deeply influenced by the traditional Chinese painting style, especially the "leaving empty space" technique, which leaves imagination to the audience. When asking about his impression about Beijing and the Forbidden City, he said, "I will not use the word like, love is the word I choose to describe the place."

He Guangbei, vice-chairman of the exclusive sponsor of the exhibition, Bank of China (Hong Kong), said at the opening ceremony that the unique paintings of the Forbidden City like the poetry of silence, which gave the audience a chance to see the palace through a French artist's eyes. He hope this kind exhibition can provide a chance for peoples of both nations to gain greater understanding of each other.