Cultivating artistic seeds on a land of rich tradition

Kong Xiangzhong, a native of Deyang, Sichuan province, was nurtured by the area's diverse folk customs, including its beloved woodblock prints.

An essential part of festive celebrations, the prints are made with highly saturated colors and vivid details, preserving the traditional aspects of country life and emitting a delightful mood.

For years, Kong has reached one hand out to this tradition, producing works inspired by the compositions and color arrangements of the woodblocks. On the other hand, he has created a body of ink paintings that show Sichuan's distinctive landscape and cultural features.

Kong's artworks are shown in his solo exhibition at the China National Academy of Painting in Beijing.