Lin is appointed as the international curator of the sixth Beijing International Arts Biennale in China. Photos provided to China Daily

China-born Singaporean painter Lin Xiangxiong was recently a visiting professor at Peking University, where he held a solo art exhibition, becoming the first overseas painter-professor in the history of the century-old university.

The 33 carefully selected paintings displayed in the landmark Peking University Hall from June 6 to 9 attracted great attention from students.

One of the works, Autumn Walk, was created specially for the university.

The gift now hangs in the VIP room of the university hall.

An enlarged version, nearly 14 meters wide and more than 6 m tall, is on permanent display in the lobby of the hall.

Lin explained that the theme of the painting - trees in the woods - was derived from a Chinese saying that it takes 10 years to grow a tree, but a sound education program might require 10 times as long before it takes root.

"The golden leaves illustrate the color of autumn, while the trunks, painted in dry ink, represent the unyielding spirit of the Chinese nation and its profound culture," he said.

He added that autumn is the time of change, and he chose the subject because he wants to "use the art form to probe into the natural law of the universe, the life and death of all creatures between heaven and earth".

The show was part of a world tour that kicked off last year to celebrate his 50-year artistic career. It will conclude in 2015.

When the tour was launched on Sept 9, 2013 at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing, it attracted Wu Zhipan, vice-president of Peking University, so he invited Lin to lecture at the university.