Lei Feng (1940 - 1962) was a soldier in the People's Liberation Army, who, post-mortem, was singled out and promoted as a role model by no less than Mao Zedong himself.  His near mythic acts of kindness (he darned his comrades' socks! he sewed quilts for others! he hauled heavy loads of manure!) earned him a special day on the Chinese calendar.  March 5 is now known as Learn From Lei Feng Day.  During the 5 months in 2015 that I was in Beijing as a resident artist at the Shangyuan Art Museum, I learned that just about everyone has a strong feeling about Lei Feng. He is either seen as the uncomplaining young man who helped old ladies cross the street, or as a propaganda tool minted in the dark times of recent Chinese history - the Cultural Revolution.  His cult has re-emerged and been re-energised in part to combat the excessive selfishness that has come with the current get rich at any cost mentality.  While at Shangyuan I used the popular imagery of this folk hero to explore the often conflicting relationship of China of the 60's and 70's, the period of my own American youth, and the China I witnessed while in residence.