The Zhang Chongren Memorial Hall will open in Minhang District's Qibao township, Shanghai, with an architectural style dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).It will house 20of Zhang's sculptures, including busts of China's late top leader Deng Xiaoping and prominent author Mao Dun, as well as more than 30replicas of his oil paintings.

The hall also contains 140 photos of Zhang's life and achievements.

"The establishment of the memorial hall falls in line with our policy to build Qibao into a culture-oriented town,” said Xia Genfu,director of the town, which invested 5million yuan (US$602,410) in the memorial hall.

The hall is located on a scenic spot along Qibao Old Street, a tribute to traditional life in one of China's typical water towns. Zhang, a native of the town who was born in 1907 and died in 1998, devoted his life to sculpture and oil painting.

As a teenager, Zhang demonstrated an early knack for artistic work, and in 1931he enrolled in Belgium's Royal Art Academy.

In 1935, he returned home and subsequently set up a private studio in Shanghai, where he trained more than 300 students and sculpted busts of celebrities.

But he was persecuted during the Culture Revolution (1966-1976) as most of his works were destroyed. Zhang's artistic career culminated in the 1980s, when he was invited to sculpt a copper bust for then-French president Francois Mitterrand. In the 1990s, Zhang again made headlines when he was asked to create statues of Nie Er, composer of China's National Anthem, and the late leader Deng Xiaoping.

(eastday.com March 17, 2003)