Zhoushan village artists make a comeback in Beijing

The long-forgotten history of the Lisbon Maru during World War II was brought into the spotlight after this Japanese transport ship became the subject of the 2024 documentary film, The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru. When British prisoners of war aboard the vessel struggled in the ocean as the ship sank, Chinese fishermen from the nearby Zhoushan islands came to rescue.

Today, the bravery of these fishermen becomes the subject of a painting on show at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing, by village artists from Zhoushan.

The Zhoushan archipelago, off the northern coast of Zhejiang province, is best known for its large varieties of fine marine products. It is richly cultivated, and its many sacred mountains and temples make it a popular destination for pilgrims.

Since the 1980s, painting has been trending among villagers and fishermen in Zhoushan, becoming one of its cultural trademarks. Works of these amateur yet passionate artists stunned people when they were shown at the National Art Museum of China in 1987, and again in 2015. They are making a comeback to the same museum in the exhibition The Rural World on the Sea, which displays paintings created over the last decade. The exhibition runs until Dec 5.

The works celebrate Zhoushan's impressive sea views and vigorous folk customs. They also document the area's urban development in recent years, including booming tourism and the shipbuilding and repair industry.