Following up from debut exhibition "huMEN's Dream" in February, Beijing gay nightclub Destination has returned with a smaller, though no less diverse second installment to the series. Lao Weike, curator of "huMEN's Dream No.2," said it aims to show visitors the "hidden world of men overlooked by many."

    While February's showcase featured around 200 artworks, this time there are just 60 by many of the same Chinese artists, as well as new additions from local young painter Chen Xin.

"The previous exhibition was about man's image and spiritual character, specifically how it can never be discussed completely," Lao, 30, said at the opening of "huMEN's Dream No.2" on the nightclub's third floor. Lao distinguished the latest exhibition from its predecessor by describing it as "more professional, in-depth and diverse."

The four Chinese artists whose works make up the exhibition are Gao Xiaowu, He Zubin, Shen Jingdong and Chen, who studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, Germany. "In our society, the masculine image has witnessed a decline while the feminine image has boomed," Lao said. "We show the inner-world of men that contains strong yet gentle love."

Chen's series of three paintings in Indulgence use vibrant colors and jagged shapes, inviting viewers to use their imagination. In his other oil on canvas trilogy, Dancer, sharp contrasts of black and red present a vivid image of a pirouetting ballerina.

Each painter reflects their own experiences in their works. Shen, who served for nearly 20 years in the art troupe of the People's Liberation Army in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, uses military themes for many of his artworks, including bombs, arrow-pierced apples and caricatures of soldiers.

"Gay culture is just one aspect of male culture, but that's not our sole focus here," Lao said. "We want to offer people not just a bar for entertainment, but also a place to enjoy art and culture."

Where: 3/F, Destination, 7 Gongtixilu, Chaoyang district

When: 2-9 pm, until July 16 (closed Mondays)

Admission: Free

Contact: 6552-8180