Art brings vitality to Zhejiang village

Art festivals bring new look for Zhongao village in Xiangshan county, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Zhongao, a village featuring orange plantation in the coastal county of Xiangshan, Zhejiang province, realized its vitalization by virtue of the art power.

This year, Zhongao has introduced two art festivals themed on oranges, which added artistic hues to the village and provided it with a completely new look.

Orange Bloom Art Festival from April 29 to May 20, the first art event in the village's history, made art much closer to rural residents. Artists from home and abroad were invited to create some artistic landscapes during the festival, such as wall paintings on residential buildings and sculptures in public areas.

In October and November of 2018, the small village welcomed its second art event Citrus Public Art Season. The organizing team, along with dozens of artists from China, Germany, Italy, France, Ireland and Japan, were stationed in the village to improve the designs and decorations of facilities and houses, and transformed some vacant zones into art studios, miniature art galleries and reading rooms.

"We hope art can inject new vitality to the old village," said Chen Danyang, a local painter who initiated the two festivals.

"The potential on craftsmen in the village should be further tapped into to make art and culture more prosperous here", Chen added.

The changes brought by the artistic events are closely connected with villagers' lives. More visitors and investors are attracted by the festivals and the new look of Zhongao, which helps local tourism thrive.

Artists from home and abroad gather to improve the look of Zhongao village by means of contemporary art. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

An artist paints on the wall of a residential building in Zhongao village of Xiangshan, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]