China News Service, Xi'an, February 17th: Paintings of farmers serve as a window for foreigners to understand rural China

　　China News Service reporter Alina

　　"What farmers paint is our lives. For example, many customs of the Spring Festival are reflected in farmers' paintings. Not only that, from different works, you can also see different scenes of the New Year under the changing times." Huyi District, Xi'an City Liu Xuxu, a villager in Liulao'an Village, said that the creators of peasant paintings use paint brushes to show life, and their wishes are simple and simple.

　　Huyi District, Xi'an City is one of the birthplaces of Chinese peasant paintings. It has been named "the hometown of modern Chinese folk painting" and "the hometown of Chinese folk art (peasant painting)". Since its birth in 1958, peasant paintings in Huyi District, Xi'an have gradually formed a folk painting style that is close to life, reflects the times, has distinctive regional characteristics, is romantic, naive, and colorful.

　　"We live in the countryside, and the works we create are all inspired by our feelings. We use brushes to recall the past, record the present, and look forward to the future." Liu Xuxu said that he began to paint peasant paintings in the early 1960s. Over the years, Use the paintbrush to understand the changes of the times and the changes in life. Peasant paintings have become a part of his life. During the Spring Festival, he will habitually "write and draw" in his spare time.

In June 2023, Wang Wenji was creating peasant paintings. (Photo provided by interviewee)

　　Liu Lao'an Village, where Liu Xuxu lives, established an art group in the 1960s, which continues to this day. In addition to painting at home, villagers who participate in the art group also regularly gather in the village activity room to create works and discuss creations. ideas and share painting experience. The activity room is filled with peasant paintings created by villagers, with themes involving harvest, farming, festivals, field scenery, etc.

　　"The creation of farmers' paintings has promoted the cultural atmosphere of our village and enriched everyone's lives with brushes and poems." Liu Xuxu told reporters that the good "village appearance" of Liulao'an Village today is largely due to farmers' paintings.

　　Villages like Liulao'an Village are not unique in the local area. Peasant paintings have long become a business card of Huyi District. The farmers' painters use simple painting language to vividly record the scenes of rural production and labor, lively festival scenes and colorful folk customs, and describe the great changes in the countryside.

In August 2023, German tourists visited the Peasant Painting Museum in Huyi District, Xi'an. (Photo provided by interviewee)

　　"Peasant paintings have become a 'window' for foreigners to understand China's rural areas." Wang Wenji, director of the Peasant Painting Museum in Huyi District, Xi'an, said that over the years, more than 100,000 pieces of peasant paintings have been created in Huyi District, including More than 1,200 pieces have won awards at home and abroad, nearly 10,000 pieces have been published in domestic and foreign newspapers and periodicals, and more than 9,000 pieces have been exhibited in 68 countries and regions.

　　"Without too much skill, the creators of peasant paintings use simple painting language to tell life. They draw simple inspiration from the simple years and interpret the fiery life in sincere and passionate paintings." Wang Wenji said, Perhaps it is this simplicity and authenticity that makes peasant paintings full of vitality and shows its charm on the world stage.

　　It was also because of peasant paintings that Liu Xuxu had the opportunity to exhibit his works overseas. "Although I don't understand the language, I can feel everyone's love for the work. Through the work, more people can understand our customs and we are very proud." Liu Xuxu said bluntly.

　　Today, Huyi District continues to consolidate and expand the team of farmers painting creations, discover and cultivate successor talents, implement special support plans for farmers' paintings, and continue to carry out activities such as bringing farmers' paintings into campuses and communities.

　　"The creation of peasant paintings requires a steady stream of fresh blood. As times change, the creative environment of peasant paintings is also changing. Each generation has its own life experience and perception, and will have different characteristics of the times, but it is necessary to stick to the original intention of creation. "Wang Wenji said that he hopes that the creators of peasant paintings will show more "wonderful things" through their paintings, so that more people can read the "splendid pictures" of the countryside. (over)