A student painting dubbed “Chongqing’s Mona Lisa” is drawing crowds and sparking conversations about art and consumerism.
At the 2025 Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Undergraduate Graduation Exhibition, held at the school’s art museum, one painting has captured national attention. The Prayer (《祷》), an oil painting by graduating student An Qi, has become a surprise sensation. Large crowds are visiting the exhibition just to see it in person. On Chinese social media platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin, the painting has sparked widespread discussion and admiration.
Some users joked, “This feels like the crowd in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre!” Others said, “Chongqing now has its own Mona Lisa.”
What makes the painting so compelling?
An Qi, a student from the Oil Painting Department at the School of Fine Arts, explained her intentions in a recent interview. She said the work is not about beauty or elegance, but about questioning the illusions of modern life. “Many people today are trapped by endless consumerism and unrealistic body standards,” she said, “I used cheap materials in this painting and layered them densely to expose the false promises of a so-called ‘refined lifestyle’.”
The painting took about two months to complete. An Qi worked closely with her advisor, going through several rounds of discussion and revision on the composition and themes.
After The Prayer went viral, rumors circulated that the work had already been sold. An Qi confirmed the sale but declined to reveal the price. Still, she hopes the painting will remain accessible to the public. “If the school or other exhibitions want to display it, I’ll do my best to make that happen,” she said.
Additional reporting by cqcb.com.
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