Dafen Oil Painting Village Faces Crisis as Chinese Tastes Shift

Dafen, a village in Shenzhen, China, once produced about 60% of the world's oil paintings, primarily copies of Western masters like Leonardo da Vinci and Van Gogh. The industry began in 1990 when painter Huang Jiang moved from Hong Kong to Dafen, bringing other artists to sell reproductions to workers and entrepreneurs. However, China's economic growth and increased exposure to Western art have led wealthy Chinese to prefer original contemporary works over copies. Rising studio rents have further squeezed profits. In response, the Shenzhen government launched the Art Industry Association of Dafen Oil Painting Village in 2004 to promote oil painting through events and trade fairs. Younger artists are learning digital art, while older ones create original contemporary subjects. Last year, the central government approved a project to transform Dafen into a creative hub for contemporary art, offering free studios to young artists. The situation remains in flux, with potential for significant change.