Art project gives Chongqing village a new lease on life

CHONGQING — Jiangjun, a village in the green hills of Chongqing's Bishan district, used to be a dreary place during winter, plagued by poverty and a dwindling population.

But the development of art areas has spurred tourism, giving it a new lease on life and making the winter scene much brighter nowadays.

Art galleries, museums, theaters and homestays can now be found nestling among its small cottages, while pigsties and cowsheds have been converted into restaurants and teahouses.

In 2021, the village government, the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute and several other bodies established a rural artist construction pilot project centered on a dilapidated village courtyard called Lotus Cave. The project involved the building of 10 core art areas, aiming to integrate the new facilities with the village's environment, culture and local characteristics.

When the project was launched, Lotus Cave was a rundown collection of residential buildings in poor repair, many of them empty.

"The total population here is 151 people, but only 21 live here permanently, and most of them are the elderly and left-behind children," said Su Chenghong, the first secretary of the village Party committee. "Seven of the 24 buildings are in a dilapidated condition, and most of the remaining habitable brick houses are empty."

Su said the Lotus Cave courtyard has now been largely transformed by the hard work of artists and villagers.

The art museum in the center of the village used to be a dilapidated house that was overgrown with weeds, according to villagers. During the renovation work, the building's original framework was restored and part of the adobe wall was preserved.

Villager Gan Xiaxue, 50, worked in a shoe factory for nearly 30 years. After the completion of the art courtyard, she chose to stay in her home village and use her skills to become a leather artist.

She now divides her time between making leather handicrafts for tourists and working as a barista at a new coffee shop.

"I used to be reluctant to buy bags, so I often made leather waste into various bags and pendants," she said. "Artists who came to the village encouraged me to combine this craft with art and make leather crafts for sale.

"Now I work at home, earning nearly 50,000 yuan ($6,994) a year, which is stable and reassuring."

More exhibitions and art activities are now being held at Lotus Cave, attracting tourists from far afield. Gan said that the injection of new life had tempted many villagers who had moved away to return and take a look.

"Many people can't believe that plays and exhibitions normally only found in big cities can be seen in our hometown, and everyone is very happy," she said.

Su said the project has brought villagers and artists together and given the village an injection of creative energy.

"Many villagers used to think that art was far away from them," Su said. "Now, everyone cannot only appreciate but also participate in art activities."