Recently, the selection results for the first Chinese Folk Painting Exhibition were announced, with two painters from the "Taoxin Farmers' Painting" group in Wanzhi District, Wuhu City, delivering outstanding performances. Xue Mei's work "Watery Southern China" stood out amid fierce competition and were featured in the exhibition, while farmer painter Yang Changsen's work "Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance" successfully passed the initial selection.

"Taoxin Farmers' Painting," as the name suggests, refers to works created by amateur painters with farmer backgrounds. Its place of origin, Taoxin Town, is renowned for its unique water-town scenery and simple, rustic folk customs, which have nurtured a group of farmer painters who love art and are deeply rooted in life. In 2023, with support from the local government, Cheng Jie, a professor at the School of Art and Design of Anhui Polytechnic University, initiated the formation of a creative team comprising over 40 farmer painters from the Taoxin area of Wanzhi District. The members range in age from their 20s to over 80 years old. The team regularly organizes sketching and creative activities, receives guidance from professional painters, and exchanges insights and experiences.

Although created by amateurs, "Taoxin Farmers' Painting" is highly valued by professional artists. "Their works feature distinct themes focused on local customs and traditions, brimming with a strong rural ambiance. They evoke an aesthetic feeling of 'natural beauty, unadorned,' and their creative spirit and techniques deserve respect and study," commented Professor Cheng Jie.

Taking Xue Mei's selected work "Watery Southern China" as an example, the painting incorporates elements such as high-speed trains, granaries, lotus flowers, pleasure boats, traditional houses, fruit trees, and villagers' fitness squares. With its bright colors and rustic style, the piece feels refreshingly original. Xue Mei told the reporter, "I live on this land every day and have witnessed the changes in my hometown with my own eyes. All these elements naturally find their way into my paintings. I feel truly honored to have my work selected for the national exhibition, and I hope more people can come to know Wanzhi Taoxin and fall in love with rural life through my artwork."

Over the past two years, "Taoxin Farmers' Painting" has become a vibrant showcase of local culture. The farmers-turned-painters and their works have been frequently invited to participate in various exchange exhibitions. Notably, in December 2023, the "Taoxin Farmers' Painting" group held a thematic exhibition at the University of Macau, which garnered widespread attention and positive responses.

It is reported that the first Chinese Folk Painting Exhibition was jointly organized by authoritative institutions including the China Artists Association and the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles. The exhibition aims to explore and showcase the unique charm of Chinese folk painting while promoting the inheritance and development of rural culture. The exhibition were held at the China Art Museum (Shanghai Art Museum) from June to August 2025.

Source: Dajiang Evening News