Pang Tao's artistic evolution epitomizes the modernization of Chinese art since the 20th century, heralded by her parents and their peers. The process began with the introduction of Western art and then was dominated by a realistic approach under the influence of former Soviet art. But it gradually diversified in style as China launched its reform and opening-up in 1978.

The ongoing exhibition, Dancing Notes, at Beijing's Inside-Out Art Museum gives viewers a glimpse of both Pang Tao's individual progress in painting-dozens of her works dating from the 1940s to more recent years are on show-and the country's changes in artistic orientation. The display runs through Nov 11.

Pang Tao's career began after her graduation from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing in the 1950s. She worked as a teacher there until her retirement in 1989.

Her 93-year-old husband, Lin Gang, who retired from the same school, used to teach oil painting.

But her talent as an artist was spotted in childhood. She was 4 years old when she won a prize at a national children's painting competition. At age 13, she held her first exhibition with her younger brother, Pang Jun, in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. A year later, they again exhibited works together at a gallery in Shanghai.