The spring in 2020 was surely extraordinary for every Chinese. The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 stirred concern all over the country. In this battle, a large number of medical workers built a solid defense line of flesh and blood to protect people’s lives. When Hubei was hardest hit by the epidemic and faced with a serious shortage of medical resources, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH), affiliated with the Zhejiang University School of Medicine, quickly set up medical teams to assist Hubei and successively sent 4 batches of 189 medical workers taking a large number of medical supplies to the affected province. Touching stories happened every day as these medical workers came into close contact with patients: they encouraged patients, protected themselves, treated patients seriously, remained optimistic and strong, overcame difficulties at work that few ordinary people could possibly imagine, endured tremendous workload, and fulfilled their ideals and missions in their capacity with practical actions. They finally live up to expectations and made a triumphant return as the most lovely and respectable heroes in this smokeless battle.

Most members of these anti-epidemic teams were female medical workers. They gave great love at the expense of their family and supported the hardest hit place with morale as excellent as their male colleagues. They were “angels in white” in the eyes of all patients. In this smokeless battle, they fulfilled their original intention and mission as part of the medical cause with practical actions, built a solid defense line with flesh and blood, lived up to expectations and made a triumphant return. They were the most beautiful heroes in harm’s way in this battle of epidemic prevention and control!

Arrival of medical workers

We were used to them wearing thick protective clothing, masks, and goggles in epidemic reports of major media. However, we didn’t know their names, and nor did we see how they looked and feel their fatigue and tears, relief and smiles.

Opening ceremony

Today, in order to pay high respect to every heroine who went in harm’s way in the fight against the epidemic, ZJAM specially planned an art portrait painting named “See Her Face” with Zhejiang Women’s Federation, the School of Painting Art of China Academy of Art, and SRRSH, organizing nearly 100 artists to paint portraits of 40 female medical workers who fought the epidemic at the front line on behalf of the hospital. They would receive the portraits as gifts. The purpose of this event was to pay tribute in an artistic manner to the most beautiful heroines in harm’s way.

Du Qun, secretary of the Party General Branch and deputy curator of ZJAM, presiding over the event

Ying Jinfei, curator of ZJAM, delivering a speech

Fang Limin, secretary of the Party General Branch and deputy dean of the School of Painting Art, China Academy of Art, delivering a speech

Zhuang Yiyu, vice president of SRRSH, delivering a speech

Jin Lei, director of the Propaganda Department of Zhejiang Women’s Federation, announcing the opening of the event

The painting works created at this event will be open to the public at the “See Her Face—Epidemic · Love Painting Exhibition” at ZJAM from June 16 to July 5, 2020. The exhibition will also display more than 100 paintings by teachers and students from the School of Painting Art, China Academy of Art, that come in such genres of Chinese painting, oil painting, printmaking, and calligraphy. These works include records of quarantined life at home, depictions of medical workers, public security officers, and community volunteers, and descriptions of actions at the front line of epidemic fighting.

A photo taken at the site of the Art Portrait Painting