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Chinese painting, unlike music or other performing arts, is not a field in which child prodigies are expected to pop up.

One of the reasons for this is the painstaking commitment required to master the basic techniques. Another is a general lack of appreciation  for Chinese culture in our society.

Fortunately, Lau Kam-shim and Lau Kam-sen, 17 and 15, possess  both qualities. The two began painting seriously at the age of six with their teacher, Siu Ching-ling. Above all, they both show a deep admiration and curiosity towards Chinese culture - a rare quality in local teenagers today.

This week, the brother and sister  are staging their first public exhibition - The Paintings of Lau Kam-shim and Lau Kam-sen - at the Hong Kong Arts Centre. The exhibition  is a showcase of about 100  works painted during their childhood and early adolescent years.

While the two are equally gifted as painters,  they have distinct styles that represent their own characters and interests. For example, Kam-shim likes to paint nature, while Kam-sen likes depicting horses.

'We have few opportunities to appreciate nature because our city life is very stressful,' Kam-shim said. 'Our natural heritage is very important and we must learn how to treasure it.'

Kam-shim's love of nature is revealed in some of her landscape paintings, some of which take a month to finish.

'I have to be very patient because the details of the trees, such as each of its leaves, have to be painted. But once I finish the painting I am very happy,' Kam-shim said.

Her other favourites are her fish paintings, in which each fish is painted in different vibrant colours such as red, yellow and blue.

'I like to use strong colours,' she says.

Kam-sen, a 15-year-old who loves playing basketball, is fascinated by horses.

'Horses represent life. All the horses that I paint are galloping and are full of strength and life,'  he said. 'When I see horses running, they look very free. They have no troubles and worries in their heads.'

Perhaps for Kam-sen, who overcame the inconvenience of being left-handed to become a painter, the world of black and white best illustrates his determined and active character.

'I think the colours of black and white can be mixed to create different tones, which is very special,' said Kam-sen, who often uses the skill of liu bai, which means  the use of white spaces.

They both share a love and concern for  Chinese culture. Kam-shim said that while she holds a Canadian passport, inside she remains  true to her Chinese identity.

'Hong Kong is a westernised city but we have to remember our Chinese culture,'  Kam-sen said. 'This is something that we cannot change ... it is in my blood.'

The paintings of Lau Kam-shim and Lau Kam-sen  can be seen until Sunday  at The Pao Galleries on the 5th Floor of the Hong Kong Arts Centre.  All  proceeds will go to  Unicef Hong Kong.



Sibling artistry