Stones have been a popular subject for artists throughout the centuries. Zhou Chunya began his "Mountain Stone" series in 1990. Different from his "Peach Blossom," "Green Dog," and "Hei Gen" (literally "black root") series, Chunya infused creative painting techniques and various types of paints in the Mountain Stone series. In this set of paintings, the rocks are fully covered by a unique, vegetation substance. Each delicate brushstroke brings a special embossed quality to the painting, attaching a tridimensional property to the overall piece. The curves of the delicate brushstrokes bring a surreal emotion to the canvas, bringing to life the seemingly silent and still rocks, transforming inanimate objects to ones filled with sentiments.

"Red Mountain Rock Series - Nude" was painted by the Zhou Chunya in 1992. Instead of portraying rocks as quiet, lifeless objects as they are traditionally displayed, the artist uses an adventurous method for their depiction by painting them with layers of deep reds. In this piece, the traditionally elegant and graceful mountain stone exudes signs of violence, even sensuality. This is a reflection of the artist's challenge to tradition, as well as the complexities of his search for the origin of nature from within him.