The Xiao Feng Art Museum's inaugural show in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is Children of the Era: The Art Exhibition of Xiao Feng and Song Ren. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Museum in Zhejiang honors artist couple whose paintings center on China's revolutionary history, Deng Zhangyu reports.

In the Xiao Feng Art Museum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, two of late artist Xiao Feng's favorite sayings are etched into the walls: "Life and tradition nurture art", and "Art is by the people, for the people".These words distill the essence of his eight-decade journey in art, a path defined by conviction, resilience, and devotion to his country.

Xiao, a renowned Chinese painter who passed away in July at 93, left behind more than memories. In April, when the museum opened its doors to the public, he donated 503 works created by himself and his wife, fellow artist Song Ren, who died earlier this year in March.

"This museum was my father's final wish," says his daughter Xiao Ge, now the museum's deputy director. "He believed that art comes from the people, and should be returned to his country and the people."

Her words echo the couple's life story. "My parents emerged from the smoke of gunpowder, having lived through the wars of the last century. They used painting to document the changes of the era," she says.

Born in the turbulent 1930s, both Xiao Feng and Song came of age amid revolution and war. At just 11 years old, Xiao Feng joined the Xin'an Touring Troupe, a teenage art group led by the Communist Party of China in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). Song grew up in revolutionary bases, sketching war-themed paintings as a child. These early experiences instilled in them an unshakable resilience and deep patriotism, qualities that were later infused in their art.

Much of their work centered on China's revolutionary history, a genre that dominated the country's art scene during the 1950s. One of their best-known pieces, The Dawn, captures the historic night in 1949 when the People's Liberation Army marched into Shanghai.

Rendered in layers of gray, the canvas depicts soldiers resting in the streets under neon lights, careful not to disturb residents. Walking among them are commanders Chen Yi and Su Yu, gazing at their exhausted troops with pride.

At the center sits a veteran leaning against a statue, a young recruit's head resting on his knee. That teenager is widely regarded as a self-portrait of Xiao Feng.

In Xiao Feng's representative works, Chen Yi, the commander of the New Fourth Army to which he belonged, often served as the "main character" in his paintings. He painted scenes of Chen leading the New Fourth Army to survey the Yangtze River crossing in 1938 and standing amid the reeds contemplating tactical actions.

These portraits were not mere images but reflections of the loyalty and admiration Xiao Feng felt for his commander.

In 1950, with the approval of Commander Chen, Xiao Feng and some members of the Xin'an Touring Troupe were sent to study at the National College of Art in Hangzhou, now known as the China Academy of Art. After three years, in 1954, Xiao Feng passed a rigorous examination and went to study at the Repin Academy of Fine Arts in the former Soviet Union for six years.

That period was formative. He created Farewell to Jiangnan, a painting drawn from his wartime ordeal. Jiangnan refers to the southern regions of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

During an ambush in the marshes, his feet froze, nearly requiring amputation — until an elderly villager cradled them in his arms to warm them. The work immortalizes not only the cruelty of war but also the kindness that sustained survival.

It was also in the former Soviet Union that Xiao Feng and Song Ren's partnership solidified, both as husband and wife and as collaborators in art. Together, they painted Doctor Bethune, an image of the Canadian physician who served and died in China during the war. The work was later included in primary school textbooks, searing itself into the collective memory of generations.

Xu Jiang, vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, said that the couple created a large number of outstanding paintings, most of which are related to their revolutionary experiences and memories. These works preserve the cultural perspective and deep artistic passion that were nurtured during revolutionary upheavals.

"The 'book' of the couple's artistic careers is not an easy read, yet it is quite moving. The emotional impact lies in its ability to highlight the characteristics of the era and to present the genuine and sincere strength of a generation," said Xu at the opening ceremony of the Xiao Feng Art Museum in April.

Beyond his artistic pursuits, Xiao Feng made significant contributions to art education in China as a long-serving leader at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou from 1983 to 1996. During his tenure, he recruited promising young artists, founded China's first institution dedicated to fiber art, and welcomed internationally renowned artists to lecture. These decisions helped cultivate a new generation of creative talent and pushed the boundaries of art education.

Fan Di'an, chairman of the China Artists Association, says that Chinese art in the 20th century developed with the tides of history. Veteran artists who participated in creation, education, and organization played crucial roles. Xiao Feng stands out among them.

More than 80 of the couple's works are now on display at the Xiao Feng Art Museum. The museum's inaugural show, Children of the Era: The Art Exhibition of Xiao Feng and Song Ren, spans historical scenes, daily life, and vast landscapes of the motherland. Through bold brushwork and subtle tones, the paintings capture both the hardships and the spirit of endurance that defined their generation.

Since its opening, this uniquely shaped art museum has quickly attracted a large number of young visitors. Located just a few kilometers from the famed West Lake, the museum receives over 1,000 visitors each day.

"This is quite remarkable for an art museum, especially one that features exhibitions on revolutionary history. We didn't expect this," says Xiao Ge.

She notes that many initially come to admire the building but soon find themselves drawn to the paintings. In the process, they gain exposure to the country's revolutionary history and an appreciation for realist art.

Meng Yunsheng, director of the museum, says: "From the wartime era to the period after liberation, Xiao Feng's 80 years of artistic creation have always remained close to the people. His art museum is not only a treasure trove of art but also a base for patriotic education."