Posting Nianhua (New Year prints) is a traditional Chinese custom to chase away evil spirits and bring blessings and peace to families.

To greet the Year of the Tiger, Sino Group’s ‘Art in Hong Kong’ joins hands with Hong Kong Open Printshop to exhibit around 40 carefully selected valuable New Year prints collected from various places in mainland China. Located at OC Gallery, the exhibition includes pieces from Taohuawu of Suzhou, Zhuxian Town of Henan, Fengxiang of Shaanxi and Tantou of Hunan. To facilitate a thorough understanding of this type of traditional Chinese art, the exhibition will be presented under six themes including Chinese New Year customs, the origin of Nianhua, its development and popular subjects.

New Year prints are a unique form of Chinese folk art, reflecting the lives and customs of the people, and illustrating their desire for good weather for their crops, plentiful harvests, a harmonious family life, and an abundance of male offspring. The subject matter of these New Year prints can be divided into three main categories: deities, prayers for prosperity, and or stories from traditional Chinese operas. Over the centuries the subject matter of New Year prints expanded to include historical figures, celestial beings and mythical figures of Confucian, Buddhist and Daoist origins, and stories from traditional Chinese operas. In this way, New Year prints developed from being manifestations of people’s wishes for the coming year, to being expressions of moral and religious messages, or objects that were purely decorative and entertaining. 

‘Celebrating the Spring – Chinese New Year Prints Exhibition’ showcases works from various regions of mainland China, each area has its own geographical features and customs, their New Year prints are also different in style. New Year prints from Taohuawu, Suzhou, for example, are characterised by delicate colours and graceful compositions exhibiting a restrained quality typical of the Jiangnan region. In contrast, works from Yangjiabu, Shandong, feature stark colour contrasts, stylised compositions and a strong decorative flair, while prints from Fengxiang, Shaanxi, are characterised by an antique flavour and powerful, vigorous lines. New Year prints from Zhuxian Town, Henan, can be recognised by their exaggerated figural forms and pictorial compositions, rough line work and brilliant colours. Visitors can take this opportunity to view all these precious works in one time in this festive season and to welcome the Year of Tiger.


Time: 9am – 9pm
Venue: OC Gallery — G/F Olympian City 1, 11 Hoi Fai Road, West Kowloon