Chongqing- On August 22, 2020, the sixth and final edition of the Bauhinia Cup Cross-Strait and Hong Kong-Macao Youth Painting and Calligraphy Competition was held in Nanshan Botanical Gardens.

Thirty lucky children had the unique opportunity to observe teacher Fang Fengfu, a master of Chinese painting, create a work of art depicting grapevines up close as he mixed the colors of ink and applied careful brushstrokes.

‘Children! Grapes can be painted with just two strokes. Once you have the right color of ink, flatten the brush. First, paint a small semicircle, and then a large semicircle.’ Master Fang explained.

The young participants stood next to him so they could learn the skills of painting grapes in plain and easy-to-understand language. They listened attentively and were very interested in his simple painting method.

Teacher Fang Fengfu also shared decades of personal experience creating artwork and encouraged the children to carry the tradition forward and inherit Chinese traditional culture.

As a surprise for the students, master Fang gifted each child a copy of his book entitled ‘Freehand Flower and Bird Painting Techniques’ with bookmarks featuring grape works.

Fang Fengfu is known as the master of painting grapes in China. He has created masterpieces that adorn prestigious landmarks such as the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Zhongnanhai Compound, Ziguang Pavilion of the State Council, the Rostrum of Tiananmen, and the Sichuan Hotel.

He has published large and small editions of the 'Fang Fengfu Painting Collection, How to Draw Wisteria, Freehand Techniques of Flowers and Birds, Hundred Cranes of Chaoyang, and the Fang Fengfu Grape Collection, among various albums.

At the event, Kai, a famous Canadian writer, and author wrote the English poem Juicy Chongqing Grapes in a special tribute to the extraordinary achievements of Fang Fengfu in art, and for whom he performed a recital full of emotion.

Zhou Xingyu, a young performer from the Sichuanese Opera House in Chongqing, sang the Grape Song by Liu Yuxi in her unique and inspiring tone of voice. On stage, she expressed her feelings. ‘Sichuanese Opera is an important tradition of Bashu heritage. I hope children will find creative inspiration through my singing, and will better understand our traditional culture.’

Zhu Yuze, a third-year student of Huangjueya Primary School in Nan'an District, has learned painting since the age of three and a half. ‘I now understand what the teacher means about flattening the brush and diluting the ink.’

Parent Wu Yuanxiu commented, ‘Children knew the art teacher was very good, but the feeling today is very different because they were able to observe him in person, so this will be a more enlightening experience for them.’

In each event of the ‘Masters Invite You to Nanshan’ summer charity gathering activities, students have taken a few moments to express their wishes on greeting cards destined for children across The Straits and in Hong Kong-Macau. Nanshan Botanical Gardens has also prepared batches of lotus and bauhinia seeds in the hope that friendship will take root in the hearts of the children.

The deadline for the 6th Bauhinia Cup Cross-Strait and Hong Kong and Macau Youth Painting and Calligraphy Competition is August 31, and preliminary judging will end on September 7. Selected final works will be displayed online from September 8, 2020, while 540 outstanding pieces of artwork will be selected before September 30 to participate in the finals in Hong Kong.

Master Fang Fengfu expressed his feelings about the cultural event. ‘Today, I was very happy to be with the children. I explained to them in plain and easy-to-understand language, and I think they grasped the technique of drawing grapes quite well. Although time was short, I can see from their pieces of artwork that most of the children still understood.'

He continued, 'Chinese traditional culture is very profound, so it’s important that children and young people rekindle love and understanding of their culture whilst also improving their confidence.’