Label Type
Technique or ProcessLabel
The Story of a Wall
Luo Zhijian (Chinese, b. 1954)
2000
Paint on rice paper
Gift of Andrea and Irv Green, 2019.1.68Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
This expressive watercolor, blending traditional Chinese techniques with elements of Huxian art, was painted on crumpled rice paper for added texture and emotional resonance. Luo drew inspiration from the Shaanxi opera, A Story on the Head of the Wall, which tells of two sons who refuse to care for their aging father. The scene, contrasting figures in decorative modern clothing on the left with characters in traditional opera costumes on the right, emphasizes the enduring yet fading tradition of filial piety.
Born in 1954 into a farming family, Luo began painting in 1975 and has completed over 1,000 works. Many are featured in exhibitions and publications. He holds the honorary title of Master of Folk Art of Shaanxi Province. In this work, he aimed to portray the psychological tension between past and present values, capturing a moment of societal shift.
During the 1960s and 1970s, widespread famine and economic hardship made caring for elders difficult, leading to a breakdown in this Confucian ideal. Although conditions improved by 2000, Luo observed that the erosion of this tradition persisted. The painting quietly critiques this cultural loss, asking what happens to society when fundamental responsibilities are abandoned.
Filial piety was further challenged during the Mao era, particularly during the Cultural Revolution, when loyalty to the Communist Party often took precedence over family ties. Luo’s work offers a poignant reflection on this disconnection. Who Will Care for the Elders is the only copy of this painting and stands as a powerful statement on shifting values in contemporary China.