Over a decade ago, Shanghai artist Shen Jianhua left the city lights and landed on the shores of Erhai Lake in Yunnan, in the southwestern Chinese mainland. He founded the Bai Folk Art Studio in Huoshan Village, teaching local residents—many of them women who’d never picked up a paintbrush—to capture the rhythms of daily life through art.
These folk paintings are more than art; they’re living records of village memories. Scenes of fishing on Erhai’s sparkling waters, traditional Bai festivals, and bustling markets come alive in vibrant colors and flowing lines. Each stroke tells a story of community, heritage, and the simple beauty of rural life.
For the Bai women who create these works, the canvas has become both a source of income and a powerful platform to share their voices. What started as an experiment is now a celebrated folk art movement, drawing attention from art lovers and travelers alike. 🌟
Through their paintings, these artists celebrate Bai culture and invite the world to see their traditions through fresh eyes. It’s a reminder that art can empower communities and keep heritage alive—one brushstroke at a time. 🎨
Reference(s):
Meet the folk painters of Yunnan: Their life stories, told in paint
cgtn.com
