Farmer painters thrive in village in SW China's Guizhou

Photo shows a harvest-themed painting created by a farmer in Tonggu village, Kaili city, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo courtesy of the convergence media center of Kaili city)

Drawing inspiration from the world around them, farmer painters in Tonggu village, Kaili city, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, use bold shapes and vibrant colors to capture their daily lives on canvas.

Eighty-year-old Zhao Yuanqiao was the first farmer in the village to embrace painting. Over the decades, his works have been exhibited in art museums in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as overseas. Today, he still paints every day, and painting has become an indispensable part of his life.

Years ago, Dai Juyi, then head of the cultural center of Majiang county in the prefecture, led a team to Tonggu village for artistic fieldwork. Young Zhao followed along, clutching drawing paper. This encounter sparked an artistic flame deep in the mountains of Guizhou.

Dai provided painting materials, brought art books to the village and established an amateur art group, enabling Zhao and other villagers to attend art training courses in the county. From then on, farmers' painting took root in Tonggu village, and a passion for art began to flourish.

Zhao Yuanqiao (center) introduces the art of farmers' painting to children in Tonggu village, Kaili city, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Kaili city)

With only a junior middle school education, Zhao initially struggled to grasp artistic techniques. Guided by his teacher, he gradually incorporated elements of local ethnic culture into his work, developing a distinctive farmers' painting style marked by exaggerated forms and bold colors.

In the 1980s, foreign tourists visiting Tonggu village took a liking to Zhao's paintings, paying 100 yuan ($15) a piece for them, a price that caused quite a stir locally. Inspired by Zhao, many women in the village also took up painting. Combining traditional embroidery techniques with painting, they created works that were bold, rustic and rich in natural charm.

Farmers' paintings are displayed at an exhibition in Tonggu village, Kaili city, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Kaili city)

Today, 28 villagers are members of provincial-level artists' associations. More than 3,000 of their works have been exhibited in over 20 countries and regions, winning numerous international awards. At its peak, the village sold more than 1,000 paintings a year, generating annual sales of more than 1 million yuan.

To promote the sustainable development of farmers' painting, the local government has launched a specialized training program at Tonggu Primary School. Zhao now serves as an instructor, training villagers and teaching children.