Zhou Dewu, a post-80s print painter from Sichuan Province of southwest China, took part in the 2nd "Beauty of Tibet" Painting Contest which was kicked off in Beijing on July 18, 2013. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Zhou Dewu, a post-80s print painter from Sichuan Province of southwest China, took part in the 2nd "Beauty of Tibet" Painting Contest which was kicked off in Beijing on July 18, 2013. As a professional artist, he sent the work Sky Road to the contest organizers, hoping to win a better place, since he had won the honorable mention in the 1st "Beauty of Tibet" Painting Contest held in 2011.

Entitled "My Chinese Dream", the contest is sponsored by China Tibet Online, supervised by Chinese Artists Association and co-organized by Literary Federation of Tibet Autonomous Prefecture. Speaking of Zhou's "Chinese Dream", he would define his as the ethnic art dream.

Being a life member of the Sichuan Artists Association, Zhou Dewu is quite good at capturing every great detail in the life and changing it into the print picture, which is based on his rich experience and sharp mind. He likes collecting materials when travelling around the Tibetan areas, because he is interested in the daily issues of the local Tibetans.

In Zhou's mind, Tibet is a mysterious place waiting for more artists to depict its secrets of local conditions and customs.

The work Dance of the Eagle, co-painted by Zhou Dewu, Zhou Xiaonian and Fang Jun, had won the honorable mention in the 1st "Beauty of Tibet" Painting Contest held in 2011 and took part in the "Beauty of Tibet" Painting Exhibition held in Germany in 2012. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Zhou Dewu said: "I am always attracted by the Tibetans' simple, optimistic and positive life attitude. I hope to show the Tibetans' daily life through my painting works."

In his entry Sky Road, Zhou portrays an old Tibetan lady crossing mountains and rivers and walking towards the Potala Palace. On her way to the holy land, the lady holds the prayer wheel, passing her eternal pursuit and love for the religious belief to other believers.

The Tibetan people are the nationality that sticks to their own belief. Since they have a better life than the past, they could enjoy a smoother and quieter circumstance to pursue their own beliefs.

Zhou considers the "Beauty of Tibet" Painting Contest as a high-end platform for the artists who are interested in the Chinese minority art. The contest plays a unique role in developing and promoting the Tibetan culture and art.

The work Sky Road is a blackboard woodcut painted by Zhou Dewu, showing an old Tibetan lady crossing mountains and rivers and walking towards the Potala Palace for her firm faith. [Photo/China Tibet Online]