Lei's potrait of the local tour guide Photo:Courtesy of Lei Yongbin

"This project praises those unknown figures who have dedicated themselves to poverty alleviation in China. It is important for us to remember who they are through art," Lei Yongbin, a watercolor painting veteran and university professor, told the Global Times while talking about his portraiture project in Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, a region that used to be one of the most underdeveloped areas in China's Chongqing Municipality.   

Taking five years to complete the art collection, Lei's project is made up of 70 portraits of village workers at Gong Tan Ancient Town - a 4A historical town with huge tourism potential thanks to local poverty alleviation efforts. 

An art professor specializing in Western watercolor painting, Lei noted that the works in the series pay homage to ordinary yet dedicated individuals in the village.  

His portraits depict the town's teachers, local police officers, employees at the local village administration and volunteers who have contributed to the development of the area's cultural tourism. 

As a creator who has rich art experience worked in the cradle of Western watercolor painting the UK, Lei noted that in a Chinese social context Western watercolors' idyllic nature should be used to examine ordinary life as it is the average citizen who fulfills various social responsibilities rather than privileged individuals.  

Lei recalled that there was a bookshop owner who made a deep impression on him. The man was a fellow painting veteran who decided to give up city life to run a small bookstore in the remote area. 

"I painted his portrait three times and every single time was different. His bookstore has been changing the locals' cultural lives." 

Lei's potrait of the bookshop owner Photo:Courtesy of Lei Yongbin

Lei also said that he would talk with participants while painting to develop a deeper connection to them and that their stories always inspired him.

"When I first came here, I was touched that not one single person made a poor comment about China's poverty alleviation policies. They were so pleased about how their everyday lives have been changed." 

As a professor at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Lei brought his students to the area during their summer breaks so they too could be artistically inspired by the revived village. 

"As a cultural worker, we might not be able to contribute to the area like those dedicated local workers, but we can use the power of art to show China's efforts to revitalize rural regions." 

The artist revealed that he plans to visit other rural areas across the country to continue his portrait project. 

Lei's potrait of the teacher in town Photo:Courtesy of Lei Yongbin