Bendi Stories: Knife Painting with Hu Qianyin

In a modest studio near Chengdu Airport, the scrape of metal against canvas cuts through the quiet. The space is both a massage shop run by Hu Qianyin’s wife and a workshop where Hu practices the art of knife painting.

Discovering the craft

Hu first encountered knife painting in 2019, when his community organized an introductory class led by Shi Decheng, a third-generation inheritor of the craft. What began as a trial soon became central to his daily life, as by the sixth lesson he was captivated. He continued training at his own expense, determined to master the skill.

Knife painting is a subtractive style of oil painting. Rather than layering pigment with a brush, artists spread broad swathes of color, then scrape and sculpt the surface with a knife until the image emerges. Mistakes can be removed and reworked, making the method both forgiving and demanding.

In his early years of learning, Hu devoted nearly every spare hour to painting, often working late into the night. Over time, that devotion grew into a discipline that gave structure to his days.

Many of his landscapes draw on photographs of China’s mountains and rivers, serving as both study and inspiration. Others come from memory, like a painting that recalls a trip to Xichang in Western Sichuan, where his family shared time together in the mountains.

Finding community

Hu’s path to painting grew out of years marked by illness and recovery. A car accident left him with lasting physical limitations, and later health challenges still require regular treatment in Chengdu. Daily life is not easy, but along the way he has found support through community.

His work reached new audiences through Blue Sheep, a Chengdu-based social enterprise founded by Rachel Day, known affectionately as ‘Grandma Rachel.’ The organization supports people with disabilities and marginalized groups by selling their handmade crafts and artworks. When Hu first brought in his paintings, Rachel displayed them and bought several on the spot, offering both encouragement and financial support. Today, Blue Sheep continues to share his art with those who value not only the craft but the story it carries.

A practice of perspective

Hu now divides his days between household tasks, supporting his wife’s massage business, and painting. His wife, herself blind, welcomes clients each day with steady hands and a warm presence. Together, they have built a routine that balances family, work, and creativity.

For Hu, painting is not only about technique but also about perspective. Every canvas reflects not just a mountain or river but the persistence it takes to create despite challenge. Knife in hand, he builds each scene one scrape at a time — a practice as much about resilience as it is about art.

Words by Gabrielle Keepfer

Video produced by WildChina碧山

Cinematography and editing by Charles Zhu

Subtitles by Qing Gu and Gabrielle Keepfer

A special thanks to: Hu Qianyin and the Blue Sheep community

Interview location: Chengdu, Sichuan Province