China has a huge number of migrant workers from rural areas working in cities. They play an important role in the cities' development, but their efforts are often neglected. Now an exhibition has opened at the National Museum of China putting the group into the spotlight.
Their hard labor has contributed to the prosperity of the big cities. Coming from impoverished countryside, they are often lonely onlookers into the bustling city life.
The exhibition aims at capturing the living status of migrant workers, and highlighting the prominence of this large group in the nation’s economy.
Organized by China's Ministry of Culture, and the National Academy of Arts, the exhibition is also an observation of Chairman Mao's speech about art 70 years ago, which says art should be related to the people and serve society.
170 works on display come from over 150 painters. Li Chuanzhen, from Wuhan, has been focused on migrant workers for eight years and has won multiple awards for her portraits of this unique group.
Li Chuanzhen, painter, said, "My relatives and friends are migrant workers. Each corner of the city you can find them. I hope my art can push this underprivileged group to the center stage to eulogize them."
Painter Man Wenqi portrays some rural workers returning to their home town. His work emphasizes the changes migrant workers have brought to their rural home.
Man Weiqi, painter, said, "This work I painted during my trip to a rural town called Gongyi in Shandong. I noticed that the families with better living conditions all had some members out working in cities. So I feel migrant workers not only have contributed to the society, but have improved their own lives."
This set of portraits is captured by the painter in a construction site near 798 art zone.
Chen Zifeng, painter, said, "I want to present a feel of decorative art into my painting of migrant workers."
Participating artists also were invited to rural towns in Henan and Shandong, to better understand the theme. The exhibition will run for ten days.
（责任编辑：何莹莹）