Home
» City specials
» Hangzhou
Spotlight on farmers' painting
By Xu Wenwen |
July 8, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ONE of China's most comprehensive exhibitions of farmers' art - and paintings about farmers - is underway at the Zhejiang Art Museum. Art from the 1950s to the present is featured, Xu Wenwen reports.
Farmers account for almost 60 percent of the population in China and rural life has been among artists' favorite subjects.
China's farmland also gives rise to many farmer artists, sometimes called "peasant Picassos," who create paintings recognized worldwide for their sparkling colors, innocence and whimsical treatment of animals, festivals and daily life.
Today China is placing great emphasis on improving the lot of farmers who lag far behind urban residents in income and opportunities.
An exhibition underway at the Zhejiang Art Museum displays both types of paintings - by farmers and of farmers - in one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive such exhibitions. The 500 featured works date from the 1950s to the present day.
The exhibition titled "Farmers Paint the Age and Farmers Painted by the Age" runs through August 4.
There are beaming, struggling, optimistic farmers who are building New China and latter-day farmers who are discontent and left behind as China roars ahead.
The show is sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the China Artists Association.
On the second and third floors, "Farmers Paint the Age" features 400 works by farmer artists from around the country over almost 60 years.
They were chosen from among 1,300 works and the selection process required 10 months of appraisal.
On the first floor are 100 artists' works depicting "Farmers Painted by the Age," including master painters such as Pan Tianshou and Wu Guanzhong.
Farmers' paintings originated from ancient traditions of wall painting, paper cutting, batik and embroidery. They are charming and primitive, with child-like figures and vibrant colors.
Subjects are taken from daily life and show activities such as working in the fields, returning from market and tending animals; they also show special events such as marriage and Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations and processions.
"It's as though we were celebrating Chinese New Year when we enter the exhibition hall," says Xu Jiang, president of the China Academy of Art and chairman of the Zhejiang Artists Association.
"Their works are pleasing and touching because they express the cultural features of the times through imagination and they are distinct from the urban, academic rules of art.
"We ought to be proud of their brilliant creations, which feature this nation's original ingenuity," Xu says.
Dating back to the 1950s, Chinese farmers' paintings were largely the result of government policy to encourage rural communities to engage in art.
It was this new understanding of art created by ordinary people, instead of academics and professionals, that was at the heart of Chinese farmers' paintings.
Since farmers' vision was quite straightforward and simple, their works were painted for recreation and to express their dreams of a better life. Happiness meant good crops, healthy cattle, a sturdy home, healthy children and now and then a bit of fun in local festivities.
In the early 1980s, farmers' paintings were recognized as important artistic creations and a cultural, tourism resource. They were featured in international exhibitions and Western tourists in China sought their works.
"This wild, free, primitive art attracted many followers at home and abroad and some were sold for up to US$2,000 apiece," says Ma Xinlin, administrator of the China Artists Association.
Farmers' works dominate the exhibition picture album, and the works of master artists are featured in a supporting role to complement the rural painters.
The 100 works in the section "Farmers Painted by the Age" are displayed chronologically, featuring different genres and styles and different views of farmers and rural life.
For example, almost every peasant in works of the 1950s and 1960s is wearing an honest smile and in the background are mainly crops, farms and villages. At the time the farmers were encouraged to produce, the more the better.
But today, quite a few farmers do not wear a smile, but appear apathetic or discouraged, mirroring the fact that millions of peasants who migrated to cities are confused about their future and are cast adrift. Many of those back in villages are discontent at their poor livelihood.
The museum also includes seminars about how to expand the market of Chinese farmers' paintings.
Open: through August 4, 9am-5pm (closed on Mondays)
Address: 138 Nanshan Rd
Admission: Free
Farmers account for almost 60 percent of the population in China and rural life has been among artists' favorite subjects.
China's farmland also gives rise to many farmer artists, sometimes called "peasant Picassos," who create paintings recognized worldwide for their sparkling colors, innocence and whimsical treatment of animals, festivals and daily life.
Today China is placing great emphasis on improving the lot of farmers who lag far behind urban residents in income and opportunities.
An exhibition underway at the Zhejiang Art Museum displays both types of paintings - by farmers and of farmers - in one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive such exhibitions. The 500 featured works date from the 1950s to the present day.
The exhibition titled "Farmers Paint the Age and Farmers Painted by the Age" runs through August 4.
There are beaming, struggling, optimistic farmers who are building New China and latter-day farmers who are discontent and left behind as China roars ahead.
The show is sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the China Artists Association.
On the second and third floors, "Farmers Paint the Age" features 400 works by farmer artists from around the country over almost 60 years.
They were chosen from among 1,300 works and the selection process required 10 months of appraisal.
On the first floor are 100 artists' works depicting "Farmers Painted by the Age," including master painters such as Pan Tianshou and Wu Guanzhong.
Farmers' paintings originated from ancient traditions of wall painting, paper cutting, batik and embroidery. They are charming and primitive, with child-like figures and vibrant colors.
Subjects are taken from daily life and show activities such as working in the fields, returning from market and tending animals; they also show special events such as marriage and Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations and processions.
"It's as though we were celebrating Chinese New Year when we enter the exhibition hall," says Xu Jiang, president of the China Academy of Art and chairman of the Zhejiang Artists Association.
"Their works are pleasing and touching because they express the cultural features of the times through imagination and they are distinct from the urban, academic rules of art.
"We ought to be proud of their brilliant creations, which feature this nation's original ingenuity," Xu says.
Dating back to the 1950s, Chinese farmers' paintings were largely the result of government policy to encourage rural communities to engage in art.
It was this new understanding of art created by ordinary people, instead of academics and professionals, that was at the heart of Chinese farmers' paintings.
Since farmers' vision was quite straightforward and simple, their works were painted for recreation and to express their dreams of a better life. Happiness meant good crops, healthy cattle, a sturdy home, healthy children and now and then a bit of fun in local festivities.
In the early 1980s, farmers' paintings were recognized as important artistic creations and a cultural, tourism resource. They were featured in international exhibitions and Western tourists in China sought their works.
"This wild, free, primitive art attracted many followers at home and abroad and some were sold for up to US$2,000 apiece," says Ma Xinlin, administrator of the China Artists Association.
Farmers' works dominate the exhibition picture album, and the works of master artists are featured in a supporting role to complement the rural painters.
The 100 works in the section "Farmers Painted by the Age" are displayed chronologically, featuring different genres and styles and different views of farmers and rural life.
For example, almost every peasant in works of the 1950s and 1960s is wearing an honest smile and in the background are mainly crops, farms and villages. At the time the farmers were encouraged to produce, the more the better.
But today, quite a few farmers do not wear a smile, but appear apathetic or discouraged, mirroring the fact that millions of peasants who migrated to cities are confused about their future and are cast adrift. Many of those back in villages are discontent at their poor livelihood.
The museum also includes seminars about how to expand the market of Chinese farmers' paintings.
Open: through August 4, 9am-5pm (closed on Mondays)
Address: 138 Nanshan Rd
Admission: Free
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
