Every time muralist Liu Zhicheng, better known as Liu Xiaobei, paints a wall in his hometown in Yongsheng County, Yunnan Province in southwest China, he captures the entire creative process on camera. The good-humored 27-year-old is often seen talking to curious villagers about his murals, donning paint-stained clothing and a distinctive white hat—his assortment of painting tools at hand. He paints from sunrise to sunset, sometimes burning the midnight oil, driven by a passion so intense it filters through his every brushstroke.

Liu posts his painting practices on Chinese social media, having amassed over 1 million subscribers and over 8 million views across several of the country's most popular platforms, including youth-oriented video streaming giant Bilibili and the ubiquitous Douyin, or China's TikTok. Mainstream media outlets such as Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television have also picked up the artist's inspirational undertakings and depicted him as a young example of rural revitalization.

The rural revitalization strategy is a core component of the Central Government's goals to promote more balanced urban-rural economic and social development. In fact, when Liu decided to return to his hometown, to paint murals for free, he never expected he would end up contributing to this cause. To Liu, all that matters is having the freedom to paint what he wants and where he wants.

Blending in

Liu's hometown looks like a traditional Chinese landscape painting. Roads branching out in all directions, chickens clucking, dogs barking... Vast fields with crops sprouting, rolling mountains and brilliant lakes often serve as the backdrops as he paints in the village and shoots his videos.

Born and raised in this Yunnan village, Liu's deep affection for his homeland seeps through his art.

He became a muralist under the influence of Chinese street artist Qi Xinghua, who portrays creatures often featured in traditional Chinese culture, and whose works left Liu in awe. In 2019, Liu made a name for himself when, together with other street artists, he painted a mural with nine Chinese dragons in Chongqing Municipality, which attracted droves of onlookers.

However, not everyone shares his interest in the subjects he wants to draw. When he first went back to his hometown and began painting a wall in the village, he intended to portray a dragon. But the villagers asked him to stop because they thought the mural would bring bad luck as the dragon image was too powerful for the house of an ordinary person. Many of his other murals, too, got a lukewarm reception.

"If you paint a bird, [for example], the more realistic the bird is, the more amazing they think you are [as an artist]. But if you add any changes, making it less realistic, they will think you are a bad painter," Liu said. And so, all Liu can do is to patiently communicate with the villagers as he tries to strike a balance between what he wants and what the villagers like.

Liu began getting a sense of recognition after he painted a pair of pandas for an old farmer. The man liked the pandas so much that he invited him in for a meal and even said he wanted to pay for the mural, which Liu refused. But the villager's appreciation did greatly encourage him. And so he started borrowing elements from local customs and culture, including mythical figures like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl—two characters in a romantic, eponymous Chinese folktale, and the red-crowned crane—a symbol of longevity. The villagers were on board with his choices.

Liu's three favorite murals, by his own hand, are Qingyi, Red-Crowned Cranes, and Fighting the Pandemic. The first two are closer to the Chinese themes he prefers to paint. They convey the appeal of traditional Chinese opera and the characteristics of traditional Chinese landscape painting. Fighting the Pandemic, a tribute to those who battled COVID-19 on the frontlines, is more like a mural with modern Chinese characteristics and one of his followers' favorites.

Making his mark

Fighting the Pandemic deeply impressed many of the children in his hometown, with some even telling Liu they want to become a doctor in the future.

"I think children need inspiration. From my own experience, I think they should understand that anything is possible. Never think that growing up in a village confines life. As long as you have ideas and goals, you can achieve a lot," he said. In his village, many children's parents are migrant workers in cities, and Liu hopes his murals can encourage these children to dare to dream and pursue their dreams.

Liu is popular with local children because he doesn't lecture them. Instead, he speaks with them as equals, often inviting them to participate in the creation of his murals.

"If you treat these children as equals, you will have a place in their hearts. If you do cool things, they will recognize you. And then they will want to see you as an example and imitate you." In the eyes of the village's children, he has become their Qi Xinghua.

But all the attention and fame will eventually fade as one day Liu will be done with painting all the walls in his hometown village. So then what? The answer is simple. The muralist hopes he can continue to paint in other villages, for free, as he feels his art has a greater impact there than it does in any urban setting. 

This article was first published in China Today magazine

(Print Edition Title: Off the Wall)

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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