This January, Element Art Space (formerly known as SBin Art Plus) presents Glorious Legend Of Chinese Pi Xiu, a solo oil painting exhibition that focuses on Pi Xiu, a mythical winged animal of traditional Chinese culture that symbolises power and wealth, by upcoming artist Wang Xiao Qing.

Part lion, dragon and phoenix, the Pi Xiu is featured prominently in ancient Chinese architecture as auspicious guardians that can be found guarding the roofs of imperial residences and tombs. Its voracious appetite for wealth – which it consumes and retains due to a lack of an anus – makes it a significant Feng Shui wealth attractor and preserver, and is much valued and sought after by modern day collectors.

Xiao Qing is one of the first Chinese artists to paint the Pi Xiu. She brings out the creature’s dominating essence by using bright and bold colours with a gentle edge. Combining this with western oil painting techniques and the use of peony flower and lotus as accompaniments to the Pi Xiu, her works exude the oriental charm. Accentuating its relationship with wealth in her collection of 16 paintings, Xiao Qing surrounds the Pi Xiu with jade accents, a colour that is considered as a colour of wealth.

Glorious Legend Of Chinese Pi Xiu runs from 12 January through to 12 February 2012. The gallery is open from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11.00 am to 5.00 pm on Sundays and public holidays and is closed on Mondays. The exhibition is held at Element Art Space at 140 Hill St. MICA Building #01-10/11/12 Singapore 179369. Contact number: 6883 2001. http://elementartspace.com.