In Beijing's suburban Xiayuan Village, three young artists — Yang Xinke, Tang Guo, and Liu Tian — are blending contemporary creativity with rural tradition to revitalize a community where over 60% of residents are elderly. Their upcoming art exhibition, featuring installations made from reclaimed local materials, aims to bridge the urban-rural divide while preserving cultural heritage.
'We see art as a tool for storytelling and connection,' says Liu Tian, whose work integrates traditional farming tools with digital projections. The trio collaborates with villagers to repurpose abandoned buildings into galleries and communal spaces, fostering intergenerational dialogue.
This grassroots movement aligns with broader trends: China's rural revitalization initiatives have seen 12% year-over-year growth in cultural tourism projects. For digital nomads and sustainability advocates, Xiayuan offers a blueprint for community-led innovation – proving that aging villages can become hubs of cross-cultural exchange.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
