BEIJING, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- The 8th Beijing International Art Biennale (BIAB) opened at the National Art Museum of China on Friday, showcasing 640 works by 595 artists from 113 countries.

The BIAB, with "a Colorful World and a Shared Future," mainly exhibits paintings and sculptures, including 446 pieces by foreign artists and 194 pieces by Chinese artists.

In addition to the main exhibition, it also features six special exhibitions on contemporary art of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries, Belarus, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United States, Spain and South American countries.

The exhibits at this year's BIAB show the artists' concern for nature, life and the shared destiny of mankind, Fan Di'an, president of the China Artists Association, said at the opening ceremony of the Biennale.

The BIAB will last until Sept. 20.