The centerpiece of artist Jeffrey Morabito's recent exhibition is A Fisherman's Dream in which a man with indistinct features stands holding a tuna. Photos Provided to China Daily

For artist Jeffrey Morabito, ideas are like fish. writes Mike Peters

Window into a new kind of reality

High tea the Chinese way

Not every teacher enjoys being called out by one of his students, but Jeffrey Morabito took it in stride at his recent exhibition opening at the Beijing American Center. The overflow crowd included many students in Morabito's class at Beijing Normal University. The artist had been describing the spontaneous nature of his creativity, insisting that his work isn't generally based on anything particular - and doesn't need to be. Stream of consciousness can be the best muse.

"That's not what you tell us in class," a querulous "Danny" counters later during a Q&A session, noting that Morabito the teacher regularly guides students to find sources of inspiration.

The student also wonders about A Fisherman's Dream, the centerpiece painting in this exhibition, Ideas Are Like Fish, in which a man with indistinct features stands holding a tuna that's at least as big as he is.

"Are you the man or the fish?" Morabito is then asked.

"Two really great questions," he replies, unruffled. He explains that young students need a traditional curriculum to get them on their way, especially given the time constraints of art school.

"I'm doing you a service by not making the class about me," he tells his students with a quiet smile.

Doing his own work, he says, he has the luxury of time - and an idea that triggered a painting today may dissipate or simply be overrun by subsequent ideas by the time he finishes the painting months later.

IF YOU GO

IDEAS ARE LIKE FISH

Through April 3.

Beijing American Center, Jingguang Center, Suite 2801, Chaoyang district.

010-6597-3242.

Jeffreymorabito.com.