fringe artist

Chapter 136 134. The Silent Invasion

At [-] o'clock in the morning, the sky in the capital is clear, there are not even a few clouds in the blue sky, and the dazzling sunlight illuminates the earth.

On a plane flying to Italy, Chen Li'an glanced past Bai Qing's side face, looked at the smaller and smaller buildings through the small window of the plane, and said with some emotion: "Looking at the capital from the sky, it feels like It’s a small city on the fifth or sixth tier.”

Bai Qing withdrew his gaze from the window, turned his head to look at Chen Li'an and said, "You can see how big the capital is if you visit the small cities in the fifth and sixth tiers."

"I know, it's just a metaphor." Chen Li'an took out the blindfold from his bag and prepared to sleep for a while, but after taking out the blindfold, he was stunned. How did he become lace?

Bai Qing glanced at it and couldn't help but spit and cursed: "I know you didn't do a good thing yesterday!"

Taking advantage of no one watching, Chen Li'an quickly put the blindfold back on. This must be Gong Li's good deed!She shouldn't have been asked to help pack things!
Chen Li'an, who doesn't have an eye mask, can only pull out his sunglasses and put them on, let's talk about whether he has one or not, he doesn't care about sleeping on the plane!
The trip to Venice this time will be very hasty, Chen Li'an can't fall asleep even with sunglasses on, and his mind is still planning the itinerary for the next few days.

If Huo Jianqi doesn't change the script, he will go back to filming in July, and Bai Qing can only hold the Art Biennale here.

However, it will be relatively busy in the first month or so, and the artists who will continue to exhibit in the future will not have to stay there all the time.

Chen Li'an thought for a while and was about to go to bed when he felt someone touch his arm.

"Hello, this is Chen Li'an, right?" A man wearing glasses said on the other side of the aisle of the plane.

Chen Li'an opened his eyes, took off his sunglasses and turned his head to take a look. After confirming that he didn't recognize this person, he said with some doubts, "That's right, who are you?"

The man wearing glasses leaned over while leaning on the armrest, stretched out his other hand and said, "Liu Zhangming, a businessman who is very interested in art, is fortunate to have seen your paintings and read your reports."

Chen Li'an also reached out to shake his hand, adjusted his posture and asked, "Which painting of mine have you seen?"

"The one at the National Art Exhibition. Later I heard that you exhibited new works in Paris. Unfortunately, I didn't have time at that time. I don't know if I have a chance to see it when I go to Venice this time?" Liu Zhangming spoke very gently, and he was only in his 30s. He looked quite familiar with Chen Li'an's affairs.

Just when Chen Li'an was about to speak, the stewardess pushed the car over and asked with a smile, "Do you two need drinks?"

"No need." Chen Li'an and Liu Zhangming said at the same time.

After the stewardess left, Chen Li'an said to Liu Zhangming: "Is this trip to Italy for business, or to see an exhibition?"

"All of them, mainly for the exhibition." Liu Zhangming pushed his glasses and said with a smile.

Chen Li'an nodded, followed this topic and chatted with Liu Zhangming for a while, before he figured out what Liu Zhangming was doing.

The standard children of the big courtyard went into business in the 80s, and now the companies are all listed, and they are properly rich.

Chen Li'an said with some emotion: "I really didn't expect you to be in the compound of the general rear. I remember when I was in junior high school, I always wanted to play football in your courtyard, but I couldn't get in."

"Haha, the headquarters only has a football field and the second auditorium to talk about." Liu Zhangming said with a smile and joked: "People in our courtyard always joke that the headquarters is behind in everything. "

"Don't say that in front of me. Those who come out of your compound are much better than us." Chen Li'an said with his legs crossed, not at all cold to Liu Zhangming's self-mockery.

"Well, let's not talk about it, so you don't think I'm showing off on purpose." Liu Zhangming replied with a smile, and then asked curiously: "What is the work you exhibited this time?"

"The one that won the National Art Exhibition, as well as the works exhibited in Paris last time, that's all, there are no new works yet." Chen Li'an yawned and felt a little sleepy, and turned to Liu Zhangming and said, "Let's talk later, I didn't sleep well last night, so I squinted for a while."

Liu Zhangming nodded, then found a magazine and read it.

Just when Chen Li'an put on his sunglasses and was about to go to sleep, Bai Qing suddenly asked in a low voice: "Aren't you going to create this year?"

"I have some inspiration, I'm still thinking about it, I'll talk to you later." Chen Li'an muttered, and fell asleep.

More than ten hours later, the plane landed in Milan. Chen Li'an looked at the sunny Milan and felt extremely comfortable. It was already night in China, and it was still daytime in Milan. Life was extended on this day.

"I lived for six more hours." Liu Zhangming, who had just got off the plane, also expressed such emotion behind Chen Li'an.

Chen Li'an glanced back, and then asked, "Are you going to Venice now? Or are you in Milan?"

"I have to deal with business matters in Milan first, and I will go to Venice the day after tomorrow." Liu Zhangming said with a smile.

"See you later, I'm going to Venice today."

After Chen Li'an and Bai Qing came out of the exit, they went to buy tickets to Venice, and then sat in the waiting hall and waited.

Bai Qing took a sip of water, looked at Chen Li'an who was looking around and said, "You had a great time chatting with that man, I thought you would chat with women."

"What's this called?" Chen Li'an glanced at Bai Qing, and then said: "I wanted to chat casually, but he said that he is from the compound, so I chatted a little more."

"I don't understand how you people in the capital treat the compound." Bai Qing shook his head.

Chen Li'an: "It's just a boring chat, and I always feel that this person will be useful in the future, so it's time to develop contacts."

Bai Qing didn't continue this topic, but turned around and asked, "What was the inspiration for what you said on the plane?"

Speaking of this, Chen Li'an immediately became interested, sat up straight and said, "Can you sculpt?"

"I've studied it for a while, but I'm not very proficient." Bai Qing replied before realizing it, and asked in surprise, "You don't know how to make sculptures, do you?"

"You guessed it!" Chen Li'an said excitedly: "I had this idea when I visited Paris last time. Sculpture is the best carrier to show the beauty of the human body!"

Bai Qing was not very interested in sculpture, so he said with some disinterest, "You can make it yourself, I won't get involved."

"It's up to you, but you have to teach me later."

"Let's talk later."

In the evening, Chen Li'an and Bai Qing arrived in Venice. It was the first time for both of them to visit this water city.

"The air here is very humid, but it's really beautiful." Bai Qing looked at Venice in the sunset. The red sunset sprinkled on the buildings, covering them with a ray of red gauze.

Chen Li'an looked at the river and the small boats passing through the city, and said happily, "Let's go to the boat, there's nothing to do when we go back to the hotel."

"it is good."

The boat swayed gently on the water, and the sunset glow reflected on the water was suddenly shattered and turned into speckled stars.

Before Bai Qing and Chen Li'an returned to the hotel at night, before they put down their luggage, Ji Fa said angrily, "The two of you ran to play by yourself, leaving me to wait in the hotel for several hours!"

"Isn't this back?" Chen Li'an lay on the sofa, not paying any attention to Ji Fa's accusation.

Ji Fa looked at Chen Li'an's lazy look with some headaches, and couldn't help complaining: "You don't even know how busy I am to get your and Bai Qing's works selected for the Biennale. Run to the boat."

"Thank you for your hard work." Chen Li'an said lazily.

Thank you for your hard work!There is no sincerity!I ate you sooner or later!Ji Fa glared at Chen Li'an bitterly.

Chen Li'an looked at Ji Fa's inexplicable eyes, and subconsciously shrank his toes, why did he feel his ankles were chilly.

Although Ji Fa had a lot of opinions in her heart, she was still very concerned about the affairs of Chen Li'an and Bai Qing. She led them to talk a lot about the Venice Biennale, and explained the itinerary for the next few days.

"There will be a lot of art salons and two art forums in the next few days. You all have to attend. Chatting with other artists will be helpful to you."

"Well, I also want to have a good chat with foreign artists." Chen Li'an does not resist such an arrangement. Artists are lonely, but not closed.

In the next two days, Chen Li'an and Bai Qingqiao went to the exhibition hall to explain their works every day, and almost spent the rest of the time participating in art salons and forums.

There are so many artists participating in the art biennale this time, and almost all artists from all over the world gather here, which is the most lively event in the art circle.

As one of the few Chinese artists, Chen Li'an and Bai Qing are still very popular among these artists. They may not be so popular politically, but there is not much prejudice in art.

Therefore, Chen Li'an received the task of leading the team of the China Pavilion as a matter of course
"Li'an, there are not many painters coming from China this time, and most of them are not well-known internationally, so you have to take responsibility." Deputy Director Qian patted Chen Li'an on the shoulder and said: "Art knows no borders. But artists have national boundaries, and they must establish a positive, correct and good image."

Chen Li'an naturally understands this reason. There are relatively few ways to export domestic culture, and it is relatively difficult to establish an international image. He will cherish any opportunity.

Just like the support for the film industry, every year there are special people in China to lead teams to participate in various film festivals, and these are all with tasks.

"Director Qian, don't worry, I understand this point. International artists still like domestic artists very much, otherwise the capital would not gather so many foreign artists." Chen Li'an responded, and then said: "It's just that I'm here I can't stay for long, and I will return home in a few days."

"Well, then I will work hard for you these few days and promote more. The influence of these artists is not small." Director Qian reminded, and then patted Chen Li'an on the shoulder and said: "This time, if your works If you can win an award, it will be beneficial when you return to China.”

Chen Li'an looked at Master Qian's pointed smile, nodded slightly and said, "I understand."

What benefits can there be, it is nothing more than giving some titles and giving some support, such as joining some associations and giving a nominal establishment.

But he will never be given any position, Chen Li'an is so old, and it is not his turn to rank seniority.

Art is often not only related to business, but also related to politics. This is the potential attribute that modern society brings to artworks.

The reason why many domestic artists have been rejected by the mainstream and often face the embarrassment of being banned is not because of their bad political influence.

Chen Li'an understands the truth of this very well. Why do sixth-generation directors keep making underground films? Don't just say that the environment and policies are not free. You also need to look at the background of the times and the influence of the works.

In the next few days, the topics discussed by Chen Li'an and foreign artists will often extend from modern art to the Middle Ages, then to Chinese art of the same period, and finally to the differences and commonalities between Eastern and Western art.

"In terms of artistic forms and artistic concepts, there are great differences between China and the West, but the commonalities are also obvious." Chen Li'an held the microphone and said after a pause: "At first, they all had religious attributes, and then they began to evolve into The pursuit of beauty."

"The most interesting thing is that the development of Eastern and Western art is reversed. In the past, Eastern classicism pursued freehand brushwork and focused on the art of mental imagery. In modern times, it has transformed into the pursuit of realism, while the West is just the opposite. Now Fauvism and Surrealism They’re all chasing intentions.”

After Chen Li'an finished speaking in one breath, he added: "This is the change brought about by the mutual collision and absorption of the two cultures. The earth is round, and the two cultures may collide with each other to create more sparks in the future."

After these words were finished, both the audience who came to listen to the forum and the artists who participated in the discussion all applauded. They highly recognized Chen Li'an's statement, and even many artists expressed their intention to learn about Chinese art.

Faced with such a result, Chen Li'an naturally welcomed it very much, and said with a smile: "I very much welcome everyone to come to understand Chinese culture, it will bring you many different feelings."

The most direct manifestation of cultural differences is actually in the field of art, but with the development of the times, this difference is gradually shrinking. There is a bottleneck in artistic creation, and exposure to different cultures will broaden the horizons of artists.

Just like Matisse, Miró, Klimt and others absorbed the freehand plane sense absorbed from Eastern culture into Western paintings, breaking the stylized constraints of realism.

After the forum ended, Bai Qing couldn't help but said to Chen Li'an: "You are almost becoming a Chinese cultural ambassador."

"Huh?" Chen Li'an was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Is there such a thing now? But even if there is, it's not my turn. I don't study Chinese painting."

Bai Qing nodded and said: "That's true, but you are so energetic, you can try to get in touch with it in the future and learn Chinese painting and calligraphy."

"This requires a good teacher, but now Chinese painting and calligraphy are almost ruined by some people, and it is difficult to find a good teacher." Chen Li'an was a little bit sad, it was relatively better in the 90s, and waited for a few years for Chinese painting masters and calligraphy masters There will be an endless stream, and there will be all kinds of show operations.

It is really my own people who have spoiled my own culture.

What made Chen Li'an feel helpless the most was that among the nearly [-] fine arts candidates each year, very few of them studied Chinese painting and all went to learn oil painting and sketching.

The domestic artistic atmosphere is really interesting. Everyone is abandoning traditional culture, almost sweeping traditional culture into the dustbin of history.

Not only Chinese painting and calligraphy, but also music and drama. Drama and opera are the symbols of high class. A ticket of hundreds or thousands is still in short supply, but traditional operas can hardly even deliver tickets.

Foreign cultures silently photographed traditional cultures to death. Chen Li'an didn't understand or think about these issues before, but now he realizes that these silent invasions are really terrifying.

(End of this chapter)