Huxian county farmer painting

Huxian county farmer painting dates to 1958 and is the earliest farmer painting with the most complete development process in China. It enjoys a high reputation domestically and is included in the history of modern Chinese art. Huyi District (previously Huxian county)is known as China’s origin of farmer paintings. As it has developed, Huxian county farmer painting has received support and help from professional art institutions at all levels, forming a folk painting art style with creative themes close to life, stark features of the times, distinctive regional characteristics, exaggerated images, romance and naivete, strong color contrasts, and various brilliant colors.

In 1973, Huxian county farmer paintings were exhibited in Beijing for the first time and then toured eight major cities across the country for exhibition. Actively publicized and communicated via exhibition, countless honorary awards were won at home and abroad and bestowed a leading position of farmer painting origin in China. In 1988, the Ministry of Culture designated Huyi District as one of China’s first ‘Chinese Modern Folk Painting Townships’. In 2014, it re-awarded Huyi District as “the Hometown of Chinese Folk Art (Farmer Painting).” Up to now, the population involved in creating farmer paintings in Huyi District has exceeded 2,300, with over 100,000 works. More than 1,200 works of Huxian County farmer paintings have won awards at home and internationally. National and local art museums have collected over 600. Over 2,500 have been featured in domestic and international newspapers and magazines. Over 9,000 have been exhibited in 68 countries and regions such as the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and Japan. International friends and foreign museums have collected tens of thousands. 40 farmer artists have visited, held exhibitions, and lectured abroad 49 times. Over 100,000 international friends and overseas Chinese from 88 countries and regions have visited and studied farmer paintings in Huyi District. It has made outstanding contributions to developing Chinese folk culture and art.