International students embrace Qijiang farmers' printmaking in Chongqing

On Wednesday, a group of visitors, including two international students from Laos, visited the Qijiang Farmers' Printmaking Institute in Chongqing's Qijiang district to learn how to make Qijiang farmers' print — an intangible cultural heritage of the city.

"The traditional Chinese art form, which I haven't seen in my own country, seems pretty new and interesting to me," said 23-year-old Pattarada Phommavong, a Laotian student majoring in Information Security and Technology Application at Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering.

She said she felt somewhat moved after creating a tiny piece of a snake — which is her Chinese zodiac sign — with some 15 minutes' work coached by a local artist.

Qijiang farmers' printmaking originated from woodblock New Year prints and murals during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties and thrived in the 1980s. According to Liu Yue, the institute's director, the works, which usually draw inspiration from the daily life scenes and wild imaginations of the local people, present a distinctive exaggerated, romantic and pure artistic style.

Since 1985, the local printmaking artworks have been exhibited in more than 40 countries and regions, including the UK, Canada, France and Germany. In 1988, Qijiang was awarded "Hometown of Modern Chinese Folk Paintings" by the former Ministry of Culture. Over 60 foreign art groups and individuals have visited local art studios.