"Door God: Yuchi Gong" work by Li Fangfu, Mianzhu, Sichuan Province (COURTESY OF YIN QI)	"Door God: Qin Qiong" work by Li Fangfu, Mianzhu, Sichuan Province (COURTESY OF YIN QI)

A Chinese New Year painting exhibition has offered thousands of art lovers a traditional folk art feast in Beijing this past January and February. With the theme of "Door Gods," over 300 works of art were on display, representing various styles in China's different regions.

Woodcut prints, each a piece of special handmade folk art featuring auspicious subjects, are characterized by their concise lines, bright colors, and joyful scenes embodying people's best wishes for the New Year.

Storing memories

This exhibition entitled "The Beautiful Folk Art" took place at Gift One in Beijing's Yandai Xiejie Street and is the personal collection of Yin Qi, a woodcut painting enthusiast.

"This folk art is of crucial importance in observing and preserving traditional Chinese folk cultures. They are the past memories of our nation," Yin told ChinAfrica. The hope is to help people know and appreciate the beauty of this declining folk art.

Yin, 32, became interested in this traditional Chinese folk art and started collecting prints in late 2007. So far, he has collected about 700 paintings from China's most well-known production locations, such as Yangliuqing in Tianjin, Yangjiabu of Weifang in Shandong Province, Taohuawu of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province and Wuqiang of Hengshui in Hebei Province.

Yin said one could easily tell the origin of the paintings by style. "Those from north China such as Shandong and Henan are earthier and simpler, while those from Suzhou in the south are more delicate and refined in style," Yin said.  

A unique folk art

Like the Western tradition of hanging evergreen wreaths on front doors during Christmas, in traditional Chinese folk custom, when the lunar New Year arrives, every household, especially those in the rural areas, decorates the doors, windows, halls, inner chambers, and even kitchen stove with the colorful and auspicious woodcuts, to express greetings and good wishes for the New Year.

"Despite their regional differences, Chinese New Year woodcuts mainly depict the same symbols and themes, a testament to China's unified cultural identity," said Yin.