Real Story of Xiao Bao Village

Xiao Bao Village, where there is gathered many talent artists, is the representative of the Song Zhuang Artist Village.

Some of the painters at Xiao Bao Village have their own houses and gardens, while others just rent houses from the farmers. To show their personality, the painters make their houses and gardens different form each other, just like their different-style works. Far away from the mainstream, they defy tradition, and don't follow the usual rule. They paint what they like, but not what is popular. So their works are not academic.

Besides some common painters, whose main job is drawing, there are still many "offbeat artists" in Xiao Bao Village. These people gave up drawing, and became businesspeople. They opened cafes in the village, or entered the painting business.

Some painters fully enjoy the leisure in countryside. They plant vegetables and flowers in the courtyard; some even raise fowls like other common villagers.

At present, the gap between the rich and poor are obvious in the village. Some of the artists, who have become known at home and abroad, are now frequent guests of international art shows, such as the Venice Biennale, and overseas collectors are acquiring their works. They enjoy a comfortable life alongside others respect and admiration.

Of course most painters of the villages still remain unknown and lead a simple life. For the poorest artists, their lives are not better than farmers. According to one artist his basic living standard is only three to four thousand yuan (US$362.40-483.20) a year. So some people run away, but still many people choose not to discard their "artist" title.

In Song Zhuang, the enthusiasm for creation has made interaction among artists, but poverty has at every moment brought trouble to most of them. Every freelance artist has had to rely on his or her own efforts to survive.

Author:Ivana

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