Traditional art depicts modern industry

Since retiring in 2021, Song Limei has devoted herself to the cultural heritage of wheat-straw painting, and has brought it to more people.

Song, a 54-year-old retired oilfield worker in Daqing, Heilongjiang province, has created over 300 wheat-straw paintings, including a group of distinctive works depicting scenes from the oilfields and evoking the memory of generations of oilfield workers.

Song had a memory of wheat-straw painting going back to when she was only 10 years old.

"It was my mother who happened to discover an artwork while tidying up at home," she recalled.

The discolored artwork with a portrait on it deeply captivated her, she said. Her mother told her that it was a precious wheat-straw painting passed down in her family, maybe created by her grandparents.

"At that moment, I imagined that one day I would be able to create such works," she said.

In 1988, Song became an oilfield worker at Daqing oilfield and participated in artistic activities organized by her unit, such as paper-cutting. She also created simple wheat-straw painting works using her own ideas.

"The design and painting of wheat-straw paintings are similar to traditional paintings, but creators must consider the natural grain of the wheat straw, which can display colors through the brightness and direction of the light produced after cutting and pasting."

Although the production process is cumbersome, it can reflect artistic value.

So Song carefully studied and patiently pondered over each process, meticulously completing every step.

Despite consuming a lot of time and energy, it has also honed her skills.

"Every time after finishing a piece of work, I will repeatedly check the details with a critical eye," she said. "I often make multiple modifications before mounting it."

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the oilfield in 2019, Song created a portrait of Wang Jinxi, who was nicknamed "Tieren" (Iron Man) by his fellow workers and local residents.

"Wang is the model oilfield worker who led Drill Team No 1205 and devoted his life to the development of the petroleum industry," she said. "The 'Iron Man' spirit is the spiritual benchmark of all Daqing people."

However, Song experienced some difficulties during the creative process.

"In most of the photos, Wang wore heavy winter coats, the folds of which were difficult to depict using wheat-straw painting," she said.

"After some experimentation, I found that by ironing for a longer time, the wheat straw could easily display the texture of the clothing folds, making the work look more realistic."

She also created some works presenting scenes such as oil wells in open grasslands.

"The roads to the wells became muddy and difficult to traverse on rainy days," she said. "To make the scene more realistic, I spent a lot of effort creating small stones next to the oil well."

In recent years, Song has conducted several wheat-straw painting courses in residential communities, attracting students of various ages.

"My students are very passionate about this traditional skill," she said. "I hope to see more people know and love the art through my effort."