For more than thirty years, I have been focusing on oil painting creations that depict rural sentiments, local customs, and ethnic minority themes. Scenes such as countryside fields, small bridges over flowing water, quaint villages, and ancient trees and wells always touch the deepest emotions within me. I love the simple customs and folkways of this land, and I also cherish every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, and every river here.

The countryside, a place full of poetry, always allows people to feel the beauty of life. Here, I have found the source of my creativity and the home for my soul. Every time I pick up a paintbrush, I become immersed in this beautiful and simple world, conveying the charm of the countryside to every viewer.

Hometown sentiment is another important element that the painter needs to deeply explore. Everyone's feelings toward their hometown are unique, including longing for loved ones, nostalgia for the scenery of the hometown, and reflections on its changes, among others. Through oil painting, I transform these complex emotions into a visible form of art, hoping to resonate with the audience and let them feel the inner world of the artist.

The elders and fellow villagers living on this land—their smiles, their batik and embroidery, their stories—all inspire my creativity. Festivals and customs such as the Miao New Year Festival, the Dong drum towers, and the Yao brocade are like a living history book, showing us the diversity and richness of this world. Incorporating these folk elements into oil painting not only enriches the content of the artwork but also allows viewers to learn more about the cultures of ethnic minorities.

In today's society, with the acceleration of urbanization, rural customs, local traditions, and the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities are at risk of being forgotten and lost. For me, exploring rural life, local customs, and themes from ethnic minorities such as the Miao, Dong, Yao, and Zhuang in oil painting is a form of emotional expression, a celebration of life, and a respect for culture. Through my work, I hope to raise awareness about the protection of rural traditions, local customs, and ethnic minority cultures, thereby promoting the inheritance and development of culture.

Huang Pingshan

December 2023