唐平很多年一直堅持畫黑畫。所謂的“黑畫”就是在黑色的背景上用黑色的顏料作畫，所有完成的作品都是一個模樣。

故事始於唐平所居住的畫家村被強行遷拆，他因阻礙執法而被治安拘留七天。他與妻女只好流徙到新的畫家村東莊繼續生活。像大多數藝術家一樣，過著賣一幅畫過一天的生活。可是混在東莊好不容易，要在成千上萬的藝術家之中人突圍而出，唐平和好哥們兒黃金甲都得抓緊任何機會。可估不到，他們在辦頭一個畫展便遭遇政府的查封…

Over the years, Tang has insisted on painting in black. These so-called “Black Paintings” are created by splashing black paint on black canvases. Thus, all finished works look the same.

The story begins when the artist village where Tang lives is being forcefully demolished by the authorities. And Tang is in police custody for hindering law enforcement. As a result, He and his wife and daughter have to move to a new artist village, East Village, to continue their lives.

Like most artists, he lives hand-to-mouth by selling his paintings one at a time. But life in the East Village is not easy. There are literally tens of thousands of artists competing for the same opportunities of the elusive big break. Tang and his artist buddies, including Gold, must seize every chance. However, the first exhibition they try to organize is closed down by the government.