Essentially the economy is growing at the expense of the farmers, either those who have migrated to the cities for work, or for those who have remained in the rural areas.
Here is an extract from the painting - just started it really:
Extracts from the news relating to this painting:
"The migrant worker has been called into existence as a result of the transition from socialism into a form of capitalism. Their forms of protest, like their identities, integrate the old (peasants) with the new (peasant/migrant workers). They use old forms of protests that occurred frequently under Communism, such as mass marches to confront bosses and petitions for government intervention. These are coupled with newer forms of protest, which include strikes, legal complaints, and getting the media involved.
Peasants have to contend with local authorities in the villages and towns that want to pillage their land...they have to fight against being worked to death - literally" (http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/12482/will_peasants_and_migrant_workers_forge_chinas_new_political_vanguard/)
"Workers-of-rural-origins are discriminated culturally and materially. Their younger cohorts in particular find themselves insecure, neither belonging to the city nor feeling able to return to a livelihood in the countryside.
There are still 800 million peasants living in the countryside, 400 million of whom have seen their incomes stagnate or decline." (http://sacom.hk/archives/640)
"As China Daily reports this week, "The 230 million-strong migrant workforce drives China's economy, but a lack of access to education, health and other services … forces massive saving, restraining Beijing's efforts to shift growth's focus to consumption from investment." No media are able to talk about migrant workers' basic rights." (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/25/china-rural-migrants-more-respect)
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