Li Qun crafted the woodcut print “Digging a Dam” in 1976 to depict a flurry of activity, with people pulling and pushing carts of dirt, while others wield shovels and pickaxes, and a tractor is also present. This artwork adopts a propaganda style, emphasising collective effort and industriousness in the construction of infrastructure projects like dams. It represents one of Li Qun’s last works in the propaganda style, reflecting his commitment to portraying the ideals and values promoted by the government at the time.

Childhood 1912-1930
A village childhood Li Qun’s roots trace back to a quaint mountain village, an enclave characterised by a mere six courtyards and ten households in its nascent years. This hamlet, situated in Lingshi County, Shanxi Province, earned its identity as Hao Jia Zhang. Positioned to the east of Fenhe River,































