On August 18, 2025, while having a meal at a noodle shop in Nanting Village, we noticed several artworks hanging on the walls—pieces created in 2008, 2015, and 2018, all by artists graduated from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts (GAFA). As we chatted further with the owners, we made an even more meaningful discovery: the entire visual identity of the shop, from its logo and tableware to the menu design and even its custom seal, was the work of a GAFA graduate from twenty years ago.
The couple who run the noodle shop have always chosen to remain out of the spotlight—they prefer not to share their names or appear in public exhibitions. Yet, they generously allowed us to document and include the visual artifacts they have faithfully used and preserved over the past two decades. What moved us deeply was not only their genuine modesty, but also their consistent appreciation and daily use of designs that carry such personal and historical significance.
It’s in these narrow, unassuming alleys of Nanting that stories like these quietly breathe life into the community. They speak of unspoken bonds between artists and residents, of creative gifts that live on in everyday spaces, and of a humility that defines true connection. This is exactly why I choose to stay here and continue doing what I do—to uncover, honor, and share these small but profound acts of beauty and kindness.
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