Reflection

Jiaoyuan Village is this ancient village in Guangdong Province, China, where people have actually lived since the 14th century. The village is packed with historic buildings, and every year during special festivals, folks head to the ancestral hall to pay their respects, hoping for blessings from the ancestors. What's really amazing is Jiaoyuan's trees. They grow tons of different kinds and have preserved many ancient ones – we're talking trees averaging hundreds of years old! The village preserves a centuries-old banyan tree, now aged 620 years. When I ask how can they protect trees for so long, the villagers told me they have this saying: "Ancient trees are treasures nature left for future generations; we must protect them as carefully as we protect our own eyes." Because of this belief, for centuries, the people of Jiaoyuan have lived in harmony with these trees, generation after generation. Even now, with all the changes and tech advancements, they're still figuring out how to balance modernization with protecting their environment. I chose Jiaoyuan Village as my inspiration for the theme Generational Knowledge because as an ancient community, it is overflowing with both cultural and natural heritage. In my drawing, the architecture represents the local culture, the plants symbolize nature, and the hands of an elder and a child embody the village’s intergenerational continuity. The trees featured are Jiaoyuan’s famous ancient giants, while the Frangipani flower (Plumeria), a native Guangdong bloom, visually connects those two generations. Through my artwork, I’m aiming to show audiences how this village has grown alongside nature – and the whole philosophy behind their coexistence. Also I believe there are many places like Jiaoyuan around the world.