Jinshan peasant painting（金山农民画） is a traditional folk art of Shanghai Han Jinshan. This style of folkart was launched in the1970s with support from Chinese leaders in Shangai, it’s inspiration is in the roots of southern folk art.
In 1980, Jinshan peasant paintings were, for the first time, sent to the Brussels International Expo. Since then, Jinshan peasant painting has been exhibited in Europe, America, Asia, Oceania approx 2700 works. In 1989, Jinshan Peasant Painting Academy was established with over 300 artists from 70+ year old farmers to teenagers, the largest proportion were rural women.
Jinshan peasant painting has been exhibited in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Wuhan, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Changchun, Nanning, Xining and other cities from 1977 to 1997, with a total 5000 pieces of work, hundreds of screenings. There have been 120 pieces of works collected by the Chinese Art Museum, Art Institute of Chinese painting, Chinese Folk Art Museum (chips), Shanghai Artists Association, Shanghai Art Museum and other units. Over 30 Jinshan artists have won national and provincial and municipal awards. In 1988, Jinshan County was named the Chinese Ministry of Culture as “modern folk painting village”. Since 2000, a large number of outstanding artists have emerged, Chen Furong, Ruan Didi, Zhang Xinying, Chen Dehua, and others were accepted as members of the Chinese Artists Association, Shanghai Artists Association. Zhang Xinying was also awarded “a folk arts and crafts home” title by the UNESCO.
Zhang Mei Ling born 1957 is a highly admired Jinshan artist. She was chosen by Shang Xia (backed by Hérmes) which opened in Paris and launched with one of Mei Lings designs on a silk scarf. One of her works “Raising silk worms in a bamboo grove” is held in the British Museum.
She began painting in 1980. Mei Ling has exhibited in Shanghai, USA and Belgium. She received 2nd prize at the Chinese Peasant Painting Exhibition in 2000. In 2006 she was awarded the title of “Jinshan peasant Painting Artist” by the Peoples Government of Jinshan District Shanghai.
