On April 17, a delegation of over ten sketchers from France and Belgium visited Duqu Village in Dayu Subdistrict, Dianchi Resort. They joined renowned cartoonist Li Kunwu—a Chevalier of the French Order of Arts and Letters—in co-creating murals and sharing cultural exchanges.

Li Kunwu (in blue long coat) with the Belgian-French sketching group before a "Nostalgia"-themed mural. Photo taken by Zhang Junchao.

The mural creation in Duqu Village began three years ago. According to Qian Jinsong, Executive Vice Chairman of the Trade Union of Kunming Dianchi National Tourism Resort and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Government Agencies, Li Kunwu worked in the village, constantly communicating with the villagers and turning their stories into his paintings.

From Dianchi culture to old Kunming memories, from traditional labor to daily life, the murals have recorded the village's transformation. This March, Li Kunwu completed his second phase of creation, adding a wealth of new works. Duqu Village is gradually becoming a culturally distinctive village along the shores of Dianchi Lake.

The visiting sketching group came to Yunnan specifically for a multi-location art trip. After finishing their activities in Duqu Village, they will continue on to Shilin, Jianshui, and other places to document Yunnan's diverse landscapes and culture through their brushes.

Sketching group having a discussion in Duqu Village. Photo taken by Zhang Junchao.

In Duqu Village, Li Kunwu led the foreign guests through the murals one by one. Then they picked up their brushes together and created impromptu works on blank walls in the village. The sketching group members captured the village scenery of Duqu and the views of Dianchi Lake with their brushes, engaging in a dialogue with Li Kunwu's local perspective, building a bridge for China-Europe artistic exchange with their brushes.

Sketching group viewing murals in Duqu Village. Photo taken by Zhang Junchao.

Antoine, the Director of Alliance Française Kunming, said that Li Kunwu is a very well-known cartoonist in France, and his works have promoted China-France cultural exchange. During the tour, the painting that moved him most was the bull—vivid and full of strength. The theme of this exhibit is "Nostalgia." Antoine believes that Li Kunwu's "nostalgia" is a recreation of what the countryside used to look like, an attempt to capture past memories. He noted that today, rural facilities and infrastructure in China have greatly improved, and the countryside is getting better and better.

This resonated with the sketching group. They called it "a very good signal for the village, artistically and humanely." Annick from Belgium sees Li's "nostalgia" as carrying hope for the future, not just dwelling on the past. From "360 Views of Rural Life," she sees the journey from traditional society to the AI era. Art records the village's culture and shows its evolution, she said. She would definitely recommend friends to visit this culturally rich place.

360 Views of Rural Life, a mural by Li Kunwu. Photo taken by Yu Yawen.

It is known that Duqu Village has hosted international cultural exchange groups many times before. Over the past three years, cultural envoys from the United States, France, Italy, and other countries have visited one after another. Qian Jinsong said that Li Kunwu's murals truly reflect the living conditions of the Chinese people and effectively spread Chinese culture to the world. He hopes that through continued international exchange activities, the brand recognition and influence of Dianchi cultural tourism will be further enhanced.

The murals in Duqu Village have also attracted many local visitors. A "veteran Kunming resident" stood in front of the mural depicting a street market scene and said the painting is rich in meaning, with figures in various poses and expressions, showing the daily life of ordinary people in Kunming. "Li Kunwu has depicted Yunnan's folk customs and traditions so wonderfully and vividly. He has left a significant mark on Yunnan's art history. He has brought Yunnan's folk culture to the world, letting the world understand Yunnan, understand Kunming, and understand everyday life in Kunming."

Li Kunwu (in blue long coat) and visitors before a mural. Photo taken by Zhang Junchao.

The visit of this international sketching group showcases how art can empower rural revitalization in Duqu Village, while opening a cultural window from Kunming to the world. Moving forward, Dianchi Resort will continue to promote art-driven rural development and host more international cultural exchanges, letting the world discover Kunming through Dianchi — and Kunming reach the world through art.

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(Editors: Evan,Doe )