A large portrait of a naked woman in 4-meter high is standing by the main entrance of Hubei Academy of Fine Arts for advertising an art exhibition.

Passers-by responses varied. Some said it's indecent and derogatory to women. Some felt it's a perfect showcase for the female body, highlighting the curves and breast among other female physical characteristics, completely a sensual vision forced upon the audience.

Professor Cao Dan, curator of the academy's art gallery, pointed out that the public response was as expected amid the development of Chinese culture. Arts needs to be spread out to reach the public. The painting is a masterpiece highly praised in the industry, which is vivid and subjectively true, therefore essentially different from pornographic photographs. By introducing it to the public, we aimed at raising the level of popular tastes of aesthetic appreciation.