A brush with tradition

For Tian, having her paintings exhibited is not enough because she hopes to display the folk art to a wider audience. She tries to combine the old folk art with contemporary art, craft and design, such as creating stationery, phone cases and mouse pads, which may be more appealing to new and younger audiences.

Now, Tian has two students who are art teachers at primary schools in Tongxin county, and Tian's son, who majored in animation at university, often gets inspired by his mother's works.

According to the official website of Tongxin county, kangweihua has become an optional course at local primary schools, which enables children to learn and appreciate the folk art form from a young age.

"When people want to capture and display their cherished memories, those paintings help them to revisit those good old days," Tian says.