In the 19th century, amid growing cultural exchange between China and the West, artists in Guangzhou began creating Pith paintings using traditional Chinese brushes on thin slices made from the pith of the pith plant (Tetrapanax papyrifer). These delicate paintings captured scenes of Lingnan customs, everyday life, flora, and fauna, and were highly favored by foreign merchants visiting China. Pith paintings became a prominent form of Chinese export art. Due to the rarity of materials and the complexity of the technique, most artworks are small in scale and highly treasured. Their unique texture and 3D effect, often shimmering like embroidery under light, earned them the nickname “Guangzhou Postcards.” Today, they remain a remarkable cultural emblem of the Maritime Silk Road.

Yan Kangping is a recognized inheritor of this intangible cultural heritage and a scholar of art history. He has long been dedicated to the creation, academic research, and promotion of Pith painting. His published work, “A Study on the Materials and Techniques of Qing Dynasty Export Pith Paintings,” has advanced the field both practically and theoretically. In 2016, Yan founded the Hung-Qua Pith Painting Heritage Studio, where he continues to produce original artworks, deliver lectures, and engage in public education. His artworks have been exhibited at institutions including the Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou Museum, and Sky Museum of Shenzhen.

Yan’s representative artworks—such as Red Lychees of Lingnan, Smooth Sailing, Kapok and Pomegranate in Bloom, Smurfs Dancing on Kapok Blossoms, Pearl River Scenery, and Lord Bao Slays the Dragon—have been collected by institutions including the Guangdong Gallery of Arts and Crafts Treasures, Guangzhou Cultural Center, the Consulate General of Belgium in Guangzhou, and the Guangzhou Maritime Museum. He has received numerous awards from the Guangdong Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Guangzhou Arts and Crafts Association.

In June 2025, he was invited to join the Asian Art Association Singapore under both the Visual Arts / Traditional Painting and World Cultural Heritage / Inheritance of Traditional Skills.

Two centuries ago, Pith paintings were created specifically for overseas market and played a vital role in the overseas dissemination of Chinese culture. Today, I hope to revive that original mission—re-establishing Pith painting as a globally recognized art. My team and I are committed to using this traditional medium to tell China’s stories to the world. I will continue to devote myself to both the creation and scholarly study of Pith painting, striving to introduce this heritage craft to wider audiences. I also look forward to collaborating with schools, corporates, and art institutions to build a sustainable ecosystem for living heritage—breathing new life into Pith painting and advancing the preservation and innovation of intangible cultural heritage.

Since founding the Hung-Qua Pith Painting Heritage Studio in 2016, Yan Kangping has focused on the creation, study, and dissemination of Pith painting. His artworks have been showcased in major cultural venues including the Guangdong Museum, Guangdong Local Chronicles Museum, Guangzhou Museum, Guangzhou Maritime Museum, Liwan Museum, Nanshan Museum (Shenzhen), and Sky Museum (Shenzhen). Notable acquisitions include:
Red Lychees of Lingnan and Smooth Sailing (Guangdong Gallery of Arts and Crafts Treasures)
Kapok and Pomegranate in Bloom (Guangzhou Cultural Center)
Smurfs Dancing on Kapok Blossoms (Consulate General of Belgium in Guangzhou)
The Ancient Trees of the South Sea God Temple series (Guangzhou Maritime Museum)
His piece Kapok and Pomegranate in Bloom received an Excellence Award at the 13th Guangdong Folk Arts and Crafts Exhibition (Youth Division), hosted by the Guangdong Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Guangdong Folk Literature and Art Association.
Pearl River Scenery won the Silver Award at the 8th “Elite Cup” organized by the Guangzhou Arts and Crafts Association.
Lord Bao Slays the Dragon received the Gold Award at the 20th Guangzhou Arts and Crafts Fine Art Exhibition in 2024.