In the heart of Dali’s ancient town in Yunnan Province in the Chinese mainland, a group of elderly Bai women are redefining what folk art can be. With hoes in one hand and paintbrushes in the other, they harness the natural pigments of the earth to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces. 🖌️🌱
These self-taught artists grind colorful soils from the region, turning reds, ochres and blues into vibrant paints. Drawing inspiration from traditional Bai embroidery, they translate intricate stitching into every brushstroke. The result? Paintings that carry the fragrance of the earth and the warmth of handmade craft. 🎨
Illiterate yet eloquent in color, they even paint their own names with pride. Each artwork tells a story: the gentle waves of Erhai Lake, the poetic vision of beauty, and the timeless romance of life in a place where nature and culture intertwine.
Through their brushes, these Bai women show us that art has no boundaries and that creativity can bloom anywhere—even from the very soil beneath our feet.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
