NAMES IN THE NEWS : S.F. Loves Young Chinese Artist

Yani, a 14-year-old Chinese prodigy who began painting at age 2, delighted patrons of the Asian Art Museum with a demonstration at an exhibit of her work.

“Yani: The Brush of Innocence,” an exhibit of 69 paintings, marks the final leg and only West Coast show since she began a national tour last summer.

Yani uses traditional Chinese brush and ink technique to paint animals, especially monkeys, but said she plans to expand her artwork and concentrate on humans.

She had her first exhibit at age 4 in her home province of Guangzi in southern China. By 6, she had produced 4,000 paintings and had shown her work in China and Hong Kong.