Picture books weave whimsical worlds and healing tales

In the deep silence of night, vegetables put on a lively drama — dancing, singing, laughing, and fighting — in the garden; the nine-colored deer on the mural of Dunhuang comes alive; in the emptiness of a theater after closure, a group of cats steps into the spotlight, cosplaying Peking Opera characters in the way they learned secretly from human performers. Under the vivid, imaginative strokes of artists, these scenarios of warmth and wit light up the ordinary moments of everyday life, empowering readers with a healing effect.

The China Picture Books Exhibition, now open at Today Art Museum in Beijing, features the works of these artists who are creating therapeutic stories to illuminate the hearts and minds of people.

On display are over 200 works from 18 illustrated books by a dozen home-grown artists, some of whom have won prestigious awards such as the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava and the Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book awards. The intertwining of image, space, and narratives allows audiences of all ages to find their own spiritual sanctuary.