Have you ever seen someone “play” with a chainsaw to create sketches? On Tiger Peak Mountain in the Chongqing High-tech Zone of the Western Science City, Deng Kun, a master’s graduate from the Sculpture Department of the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, uses the countryside as his canvas and villagers as his models, starting his “wood carving sketches” with a chainsaw—from cutting the material and shaping it to completion, a plein-air piece can be finished in as little as a day or even half a day when he’s in good form. Many of his works have gone viral online. Over more than six years, Deng Kun has proven with his creations that the countryside can also be an inexhaustible treasure trove of art. The passion hidden within the wood shavings and the art integrated into the rural landscape are the most moving aspects of rural revitalization.
Tiger Peak Mountain
Tiger Peak Mountain, located in Suzhou, China, is a historic Buddhist site famous for its leaning Huqiu Pagoda, which was built in the 10th century during the Song Dynasty. According to legend, it is named for a white tiger that appeared there to guard it after a Buddhist monk’s entombment. Today, it is a popular scenic area known for its classical gardens, stone inscriptions, and cultural relics.
Chongqing High-tech Zone
Chongqing High-tech Zone, also known as Chongqing Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, is a major national-level hub for technology and innovation in southwest China. Established in 1991, it has played a key role in the city’s economic transformation, focusing on industries like electronics, biomedicine, and software. Today, it serves as a central driver for regional development, attracting numerous high-tech enterprises and research institutions.
Western Science City
Western Science City is a planned research and development hub located in the western suburbs of Beijing, China. Established in the late 1980s, it was designed to concentrate high-tech industries, universities, and national laboratories to drive scientific innovation. Today, it remains a key part of Beijing’s Zhongguancun area, often called China’s “Silicon Valley,” fostering advancements in technology and biotechnology.
Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts
The Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts (Sichuan Meishu Xueyuan) is a prestigious art institution founded in 1940 in Chongqing, originally as the Sichuan Provincial Art School. It played a significant role in modern Chinese art history, particularly through its development of the “Sichuan School,” known for its poignant realist paintings depicting rural life and social change in the late 20th century. Today, it remains a leading center for artistic education and innovation in China.
