In the art room of a child welfare institution, Chunguo holds a brush with steady focus. The tip of the brush glides lightly across the rice paper, sketching the outlines of a landscape. Sunlight filters through the trees outside, casting warm patches on his wheelchair and adding a gentle glow to the quiet scene. At 17, Chunguo sits in a wheelchair, yet he radiates neither despair nor self-pity. On the contrary, his world is filled with color and hope.
Chunguo is an orphan who has grown up in a child welfare institution. His origins are shrouded in the dust of time—no one knows where he came from. Living with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare brittle bone disease, he lost the protection of his parents early in life.
Perhaps it was curiosity that first drove Chunguo to pick up a paintbrush, but soon, painting became an indispensable part of his life. His Chunhui Mama, Teacher Gu, recalls, “At his first lesson, Chunguo was just copying simple landscape paintings, but I was struck by how focused and serious he was.” From those early, clumsy sketches to his current, refined style, Chunguo has developed a voice of his own. He enjoys painting landscapes in the Song Dynasty style—those serene, timeless scenes seem to echo his inner world.
“I like painting landscapes, not just because my teacher taught me, but because I love the feeling of peace they bring. The world is so big—I want to see it for myself one day,” Chunguo said softly. There was a hint of shyness in his voice, but his eyes were full of determination. His art room is small, but the walls are covered with his works—from trees to mountains, from copying to original compositions. Each painting is a record of his growth and persistence.
Chunguo lives with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare congenital condition that makes his bones extremely fragile. Even minor contact—or none at all—can result in fractures. Every movement is a test of fate, yet he never complains or gives up. Day after day, he quietly paints in the art room. His brush doesn’t just create landscapes; it conveys resilience and warmth.
“When I’m painting, I feel like I’m in another world,” Chunguo said softly, his eyes shining with a love for art. He sketches the mountains and rivers of his imagination, each stroke a quiet defiance of fate. The serenity and depth of his landscapes reflect his inner life—though confined in body, his spirit soars freely through his art.
Aside from painting, Chunguo has another hobby—playing video games. He enjoys playing “Honor of Kings”. Though he doesn’t play often, gaming has become another way for him to connect with the outside world. “It helps me change my mood,” he said with a mischievous glint in his eye.
Chunguo’s world is mostly limited to the four walls of the institution. Because of his physical condition, he rarely goes outside, yet his longing for the world is immense. The majestic mountains and vibrant trees in his paintings often come from image searches on his phone or inspirations shared by his teachers. Whenever he sees a new picture, his eyes light up, as if searching for his own distant horizon through his art.
Once, Teacher Gu assigned Chunguo a task of painting monkeys. Chunguo casually remarked, “I’ve never seen a real monkey—how can I draw one?” Teacher Gu, one of his Chunhui Mamas and one of the staff who cares most deeply about him, heard this and made a decision—she would take Chunguo to the zoo to see those lively creatures for himself.
Teacher Gu and her colleagues took the children out. They carefully pushed Chun-guo’s wheelchair. It was his first trip to the zoo, and he didn’t know what to expect. But his quiet anticipation spoke volumes.
When they arrived, Chunguo was instantly drawn to the monkey habitat. He watched them leap between trees, play, eat, and groom one another. His eyes sparkled as he took it all in, seeing for the first time the vitality he’d only imagined in his paintings. “So this is what monkeys are like,” he whispered to Teacher Gu.
She nodded with a smile, knowing that this outing meant far more than just seeing animals to Chunguo. It was a moment that touched his soul, a taste of freedom, and a glimpse of hope.
Back at the institution, Chunguo couldn’t wait to pick up his brush and start a new piece featuring monkeys. In his painting, the monkeys came alive, jumping across the page. Teacher Gu looked at his work with pride in her eyes. “Chunguo, you’ve done a wonderful job.”
Chunguo looked up, his eyes filled with a confidence she had never seen before. “I want to paint more—I want more people to see my world.
In 2023, Chunguo held a solo exhibition hosted by the provincial civil affairs department. It was a recognition of his years of effort and a major milestone in his life. At the exhibition, his paintings were well received—some visitors even made offers to buy his work. In that moment, Chunguo realized that his brush could not only express his inner world, but also open doors to a broader future.
“I want to keep learning how to paint. Maybe one day, I’ll have my own studio,” he said, eyes shining with hope. He knows the road ahead is long, but he’s not afraid. Because he understands that every brushstroke is a conversation with the world.
At the institution, Chunguo is never truly alone. He is surrounded by caring Chunhui Mamas and friends. Teacher Gu, his Chunhui Mama, tends to him with great attentiveness. From daily needs to dreams for the future, she always listens patiently and supports him.
“Chunguo is a thoughtful and grounded boy—he knows what he wants,” Teacher Gu said with confidence. During his years at the institution, Chunguo has learned not only how to face his physical challenges, but also how to return love to those around him.
Chunguo’s paintings, like his life, are full of expression and vitality. Though he cannot run freely like other children, he draws a world that belongs to him with his brush. His work not only records his personal growth, but also conveys a strength and warmth that touches others.
“I hope my paintings can help more people feel the beauty in life.” That is Chunguo’s wish. And through his art, he is making that wish come true.