52 Chinese Peasant Paintings on Display in Jakarta, Lifting Rural Life and Agrarian Traditions

JAKARTA - A total of 52 paintings by Chinese farmers were exhibited at an event titled "Chinese Basic Colors" at Art:1 New Museum, Kemayoran, Jakarta. The exhibition, which lasted for two weeks since Friday, June 12, 2026, was open to the public at no cost.

The paintings, which were brought directly from the collection of the Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing, feature a variety of rural Chinese scenes. The works on display range from paintings more than four decades old to recent works depicting the daily lives of people, traditions, celebrations, and the harmonious relationship between humans and nature in Chinese agrarian culture.

Art:1 New Museum Director, Monica Gunawan, said the theme raised in the exhibition felt close to the Indonesian people because both countries have strong agrarian cultural roots.

"Although they come from different regions, the themes presented feel close to us, especially because Indonesia and China both have strong agrarian cultural roots, uphold the value of togetherness, and have a close relationship with nature and tradition," said Monica when opening the exhibition.

The development of peasant painting in China began to gain recognition in 1988, when the Chinese Ministry of Culture designated 54 cities, districts, and regions as the first wave of China's modern folk painting villages.

Dozens of works in this exhibition come from four major modern folk painting villages, namely Dongfeng in Jilin, Huxian in Shaanxi, Jinshan in Shanghai, and Qijiang in Chongqing.

Representative of the Chongqing Three Gorges Museum, Li Xiaosong, said the presence of the exhibition became a bridge of cultural exchange between China and Indonesia.

"Today, Chinese farmers' paintings cross mountains and seas to Jakarta. This is not just an exhibition, but also an invitation from villages in China who sincerely invite Indonesian friends to enter our fields, yards, celebrations, and dreams," he said.

In addition to displaying artwork, this exhibition also presents various interactive activities, such as an area to try rubbing art and paper-cutting art. These activities give visitors the opportunity to get closer to traditional Chinese art.

One of the visitors, Gunawan, admitted that he was amazed to see the art skills of the Chinese rural community who were able to be empowered and exhibited in various countries. According to him, these works also provide an overview of the beauty of China's nature and the harmonious relationship between farmers and the surrounding environment.