A general view of several illuminated panels depicting different works by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh at the multimedia exhibition Van Gogh Alive, which opened in Beijing yesterday.

The International Cultural Exchange Centre of China, the show's sponsor, wants Chinese fans of the Dutch painter to get a deeper understanding of his short-lived but prolific life at the 125th anniversary of his death. They also aim to challenge the audience's preconceptions and help viewers better appreciate the artworks.

The show begins with a display of a series of Van Gogh's self-portraits and narrates his whole life, both in the Netherlands and France, in five chapters.

With Antonio Vivaldi's musical accompaniment, Van Gogh's signature works that appear include The Potato Eaters, Starry Night, The Red Vineyard, Sunflowers and Cafe Terrace at Night.

The exhibition, which is open to the public until Dec 6, displays more than 3,000 images of Van Gogh's works.

EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY, CHINACULTURE.ORG