Photo: Courtesy of the exhibition organizer

 
An exhibition has kicked off at a gucuo in Fuzhou, East China’s Fujian Province, which explores rural revitalization efforts through the work of modern artists.

Gucuo in Fuzhou dialect refers to an ancient house, often featuring white walls and black tiles, with curved gables and cornices. These buildings are a traditional characteristic of Fuzhou, in East China’s Fujian Province and a key element of the local architecture.
 
The gucuo in Qishan Lake Park that is hosting the exhibition is a traditional residence in the suburbs of Fuzhou dating back to the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It has seen changes through the years, containing memories of the city and a sense of deep nostalgia.
  
The exhibition features 22 emerging artists. They do not discuss the relationship between art and life in a grand narrative structure, but explore new possibilities in contemporary art, blended with local memories.
 
Art can serve as an effective way to encourage people to understand the countryside from more perspectives, allowing them to get closer to local culture, and enabling them to see the way people used to live. At the same time, art can also connect urban and rural cultural resources and enhance the vitality of rural culture, according to the exhibition’s curators.
 
One work called Clue by artist Shang Yixin is inspired by a tree-shaped projection on the wall of the house, and Meng Boshen’s Ink Lamp is designed based on traditional architectural components.

Photo: Courtesy of the exhibition organizer