Praise of Life

Guangdong-born artist Xu Zhaoqian, whose work has been exhibited in Britain, Japan and Sweden, creates tranquil and romantic paintings of mountains, rivers, flowers, birds and still lifes. Today-tomorrow, 11am- 8pm, Galerie Ora-Ora, 12/F, 41-43 Graham St, Central. Inquiries: 2851 1171. Ends tomorrow

Under-layers: Works by Carol Lee

The artist, whose work has been shown at Hong Kong Art Biennial Exhibition, creates a 12-foot long glass table installation and works of newsprint to express the change of time. OC Gallery, G/F Olympian City 1, 11 Ho Fai Rd, West Kowloon, and Central Plaza, 1/F Lobby, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai. Today-tomorrow, 9am-9pm. Inquiries: 2132 8718. Ends tomorrow

Breath of Light and Shade

The Luxembourg-born artist Gust Graas creates abstract paintings with glowing hues, earthy tones, distinctive textures and faint images of houses and birds. Today-Sat, 10am-6pm, Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery, 20 Ice House Street, Central. Inquiries: 2580 0058. Ends Sat

EDITOR'S PICK

Likeness and Unlikeness: A Selection of Work by Qi Baishi from the Liaoning Provincial Museum

Retrospective of 80 landscape, flower and bird paintings by the Chinese artist who was awarded the title of the People's Artist by the Ministry of Culture in 1953. Today-Sun, 10am-8pm, (closed Thu), HK Museum of Art, Salisbury Rd, TST, HK$5-HK$10. Inquiries: 2721 0116. Ends Sun

Autumn Symphony

Indian contemporary art featuring KG Subramyan, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Satish Gujral, Paritosh Sen, Akbar Padamsee, Ramananda Bandyopadhya and Jogen Chowdhury. Opening reception today, 6pm-9pm. Today-Sun, 11am-7pm, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, 10 Chancery Lane, SoHo, Central. Inquiries: 9179 0203. Ends Sun

EDITOR'S PICK

The Impossible - 30 Years of Oxfam Hong Kong

Plotless Narrations

Wei Qingji, who was recently awarded a fellowship by the Asian Cultural Council, paints silhouettes of mutated animals, Mao and Coca-Cola bottles in Chinese inks. Mon-Sat, 10am-6.30pm, Plum Blossoms Gallery, G6, 1 Hollywood Rd, Central. Inquiries: 2521 2189. Ends Dec 2

EDITOR'S PICK

Artists and their Models: Masterpieces from the Pompidou Centre, Paris

Features portraits, sculptures and installations by 20th century masters such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Francis Bacon and Marc Chagall. Daily, 10am-8pm (closed Thu), HK Museum of Art, 2/F Special Exhibition Gallery, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST, HK$20, HK$40. Inquiries: 2721 0116. Ends Dec 3

Mark Kaplan and Pierre Matter

Russian-born painter Mark Kaplan creates impressionist, fiery landscapes. French sculptor Pierre Matter uses materials such as copper, aluminum, steel and wood to produce masculine, mythological figures. Mon-Sat, 10.30am-7.30pm, Sun, 11.30am-7.30pm, Opera Gallery, Shop 20 Pacific House, 20 Queen's Rd, Central. Inquiries: 2810 1208. Ends Dec 3

A Whim, A Bloom

Hong Wai's Chinese inks tinged with contemporary colour and quick movements. Daily, 10am-7pm (closed Tue), UMAG, G/F, 12 St Francis St, Wan Chai. Inquiries: 2528 3669. Ends Dec 6

Scene

Chinese painter Li Mu showcases personalised studies of colourful Parisian cafes and traditional Chinese teahouses. Opening reception today, 6pm-8.30pm. Anna Ning Fine Art, Room 101, St George's Bldg, 2 Ice House St, Central. Inquiries: 2521 3193. Ends Dec 7

Performing Arts

Disco Inferno

Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation stages a musical comedy set in a London nightclub about a man who trades his soul for fame and fortune. Today and Sat, 7.30pm, Shouson Theatre, HK Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai, HK$80, HK$120 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2877 2625

The Dai Vinci Code

Concert of song and humour by the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir. Tomorrow-Sat, 7.30pm, Mariners Club, Middle Rd, TST, HK$325, includes dinner. Inquiries: 9222 8826

De Ling & Empress Dowager Ci Xi

The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre stages the story of De Ling, a Qing dynasty princess who arrives at Forbidden City amid infighting between corrupt officials under the harsh rule of Empress Dowager Ci Xi. In Putonghua: Sat, Nov 28, Dec 1, Dec 3, Dec 6, 7.45pm. In Cantonese: Sun, Nov 29-30, Dec 2, Dec 5, Dec 7, 7.45pm. With Chinese and English surtitles. HK Cultural Centre, Grand Theatre, Salisbury Rd, TST, HK$120-HK$320 Urbtix. Inquiries: 3103 5900

EDITOR'S PICK

Ani Choying Drolma

The Nepalese nun, who has toured more than 50 cities, returns with a performance of traditional melodic Tibetan Buddhist chants. Kenneth Wong, former member of '80s band Raidas, and Sum Tin are guest performers. Sun, 8pm, Kwai Ching Theatre, 12 Hing Ning Rd, Kwai Chung, HK$120-HK$220 Urbtix. Inquiries: 6132 7900

The Dracula Horror Show

Purple Turtle Theatre Group stages an adult musical comedy written by Rob Wellington based on characters from Dracula and The Rocky Horror Show. Nov 28 and Dec 5, 8pm, Post 97, 9 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, HK$370, includes dinner. Inquiries: 2186 1816

Jack and the Beanstalk

Hong Kong Players' pantomime featuring the film and theatre actor Richard Griffiths, who played Uncle Vernon in the Harry Potter movies, as the voice of the Giant. Nov 29-30, Dec 1-2, 7.30pm; Dec 2 also at 2.30pm; Dec 3, 11.30am and 4pm, Shouson Theatre, HK Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai, HK$150, HK$240 Urbtix. Inquiries: 9852 2668

EDITOR'S PICK

My Fair Lady

The Hong Kong Singers and HK Academy for Performing Arts perform the 1956 classic musical about a poor flower-seller in London who is transformed into a perfectly spoken lady. Directed by Tony Penny. Charity gala performances: Dec 1, Dec 8, 7.30pm (HK$800, half the proceeds go to Operation Santa Claus). Dec 2, Dec 6-7, Dec 9, 7.30pm; Dec 3, 2pm; and Dec 10, 2pm and 7pm, (Dec 2 and Dec 9 also at 2.30pm) HK Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai, HK$250-HK$300 HK Ticketing. Inquiries: 2537 4180

How I Learned to Drive

Academy for Performing Arts drama student Lee Wai-sum directed and translated Paula Vogel's Pulitzer prize-winning play about forgiveness and survival. Starring Lam Wai-yan, Wong Ka-wai, Wan Yuk-yu and Sit Hoi-fai. In Cantonese. Nov 27-Dec 2, 7.45pm, (Dec 2 also at 2.45pm), HK Academy for Performing Arts, Studio Theatre, 1 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai, HK$45-HK$90 HK Ticketing. Inquiries: 3128 8288

EDITOR'S PICK

Grainger Quartet

Following a tour in Australia, violinists Natsuko Yoshimoto and James Cuddeford, and violist Jeremy Williams and cellist Peter Rejto perform chamber music. Nov 28, 8pm, HK City Hall, Edinburgh Place, Central, HK$100, HK$180 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2836 3336

London Winds

As a regular guest at festivals such as BBC Proms and City of London, the chamber ensemble founded by Michael Collins plays Mozart's Serenade for Winds and Janacek's Mladi. Dec 3, 8pm, HK City Hall, Edinburgh Place, Central, HK$100-HK$300 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2268 7321

Magnificat & Christmas Delights

Hong Kong Oratorio Society presents its Golden Jubilee Concert series with soloists Petrus Cheung, Sam Kan, Ruth Lau, Edith Shih and Penny Chan in a programme including Bach's Magnificat in D, The Little Drummer Boy, White Christmas and carols. Accompanied by the Singapore International School Choir and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. For ages six and above. Dec 14, 8pm, HK Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST, HK$60-HK$160 Urbtix. Inquiries: 9463 5217

Extra curricular

Thanksgiving Commemoration

A service presented by the Hong Kong Women's Choir. Today, 12.30pm, StJohn's Cathedral, Garden Rd, Central, free. Inquiries: 2537 1777

EDITOR'S PICK

Celebrity Chef Cooking Demo

Chef Felix Schoener, of the Farm at San Benito in the Philippines, gives a cooking demonstration in natural and organic foods. Today, 12.30pm and 5.30pm, ThreeSixty, 4/F the Landmark, Central, free. Inquiries: 2111 4480

Cleansing the Heart: Republican Era Tea Ceramics

Public Lecture

The Department of Architecture of the University of Hong Kong presents a lecture on 'Material, Fabrication, Performance' by Professor Toshiko Mori from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. In English. Tomorrow, 6.30pm-8pm, K419, Knowles Building, Pok Fu Lam, free. Inquiries: 2859 2131

Captives of Empire

The Royal Asiatic Society presents a lecture by Greg Leck on the allied internment under the Japanese in China and Hong Kong during the second world war. Tomorrow, 6.30pm, Activities Room 1, G/F Central Library, Causeway Bay, free. Inquiries: 2813 7500

Contemporary Art Lecture Series: India and Indonesia

Christie's and Asia Art Archive present two lectures. Peter Nagy, director of Gallery Nature Morte in India, gives a talk on India Abroad: Contemporary Art Goes International (3.30pm-4.30pm). Dr Oei Hong Djien discusses the increased international interest in contemporary Indonesian art (5pm-6pm). In English with simultaneous interpretation in Putonghua. Sat, Room 406-407 (Old Wing), HK Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, free. Inquiries: 2978 9944

Urbtix: 2734 9009

Urbtix/CityLine credit- card booking: 2111 5999

Fringe: 2521 7251

CityLine: 2317 6666

HK Ticketing: 3128 8288