A picture made with pulverized eggshell

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- With ingenious conception, pulverized eggshell and beans can be turned into marvelous pieces of art. They are not masterpieces, but created by prisoners serving time in Chongqing Women’s Prison.

On November 20th, 2013, a sand painting named Hometown’s Moon Is Brighter drew attention from the masses in Chongqing Women’s Prison. Its creator, Chen Xiao, 37 years old, was once the boss of a trade company until sentenced to a 13-year imprisonment for contract fraud 7 years ago.

Suffering from homesickness, she painted the gouache with traditional Chinese painting skills. Combined with sand art, it appears a stereoscopic impression. Since no sand can be found in jail, she came to the idea of grinding eggshells.

After more than one month’s work, the painting was awarded the First Prize of The Prison Design Competition in 2012.

Another work named The Four Generations was composed by 30-year old Liang Jing, who was once the owner of a barber shop but committed larceny 6 years ago, and was sentenced to serve 12 years. “I’m longing for reunion with my family, so I made the piece.”

“I’m planning to found a studio, in which I will just use beans.” Liang Jing smiled and said. If her commutation is approved by the court, she will go home and reunite with her family next month. (Translated by Chen Siyan, Fathom Language Limited)