Farmer-painters in Shandong bring Ne Zha to life through traditional crafts

A creative masterpiece featuring Nezha, the character of the animation blockbuster Ne Zha 2, unveils its divine charm in the hometown of Chinese fine brushwork painting in Juye, Shandong's Heze. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A creative masterpiece of Nezha from the popular animated film Ne Zha 2, shows its charm in Shuhua village, Juye county, in Heze, Shandong – the birthplace of Chinese fine brushwork painting. 

This blend of intricate peonies and mythical elements serves as a testament to the era of preserving and innovating intangible cultural heritage art.

In the local Hongmiao village, renowned artist Yao Shuzhao, along with a cultural and creative team, carefully illustrated Nezha's robes with using a rat-whisker brush, employing a method that skillfully balances firmness and gentleness.

The richly layered peonies colored with cinnabar and the golden flame motifs entwine on rice paper, while the vermilion silk ribbons weave through the shades of yellow and purple, embodying both the fiery spirit and the traditional brushwork that combines flat application with the interplay of emptiness and solidity.

As a national geographical indication product, the Juye fine brushwork peony art has been exploring contemporary expressions in recent years. This groundbreaking creation surpasses conventional subjects by merging the country's beauty with mythological intellectual property.

"Traditional art needs to resonate with the times," said Cheng Junwei, director of the county's calligraphy and painting academy, stated that this interdisciplinary venture pays homage to innovative interpretations of traditional culture, with Chinese intangible cultural heritage crafting a lively narrative in step with modernity. (Edited by Xie Zhenzhen)