Who is the old tree painting?

A painting is uploaded to Weibo every day, and the "old tree painting" without V has quickly become a popular ID in just a few months. There are always a few of his paintings, with the traditional classical landscape as the background. During the Republic of China, one or more gowns, and occasionally you can see some modern elements such as airplanes or jeans. Tradition and modernity "mix" and "cross" at will here. What's more, there are jingles with pictures. Some netizens praised: "The person who painted this painting has a wandering heart in the sky!"

Who is "Old Tree Painting"? Through probing, the reporter finally learned his true identity. He is Mr. Liu Shuyong, a professor at the School of Culture and Media of the Central University of Finance and Economics, and graduated from the Chinese Department of Nankai University 1983. When he first started teaching, the students nicknamed him "Laoshu", which was his nickname in Weibo for more than 20 years. What kind of experience makes the old tree so quaint and deeply attracts modern people? A reporter interviewed him a few days ago.

I used to take painting too seriously.

Reporter: Your paintings have become a hot topic in Weibo. What are you like in life, like the ancients?

Laoshu: I work like a donkey like everyone else in my life. Maybe some of my feelings are the same as those of the ancients. But I don't like ancient pedantic things. What I like better is the traditional culture that everyone is familiar with in the 1920s and 1930s, and the western culture brought by European and American students. That kind of weather is very peaceful and mild. I like it.

Reporter: Do you feel everyone's concern for you? Why is your work so popular?

Shu: I feel it. I don't really care myself. Not melodramatic. I started blogging very early, but later I stopped because I didn't like the fun. My definition of blog is streaking on the street. Last year, a friend suggested that I be a Weibo, so I opened Weibo under the name of "Old Tree Painting". When it comes to the popularity of works, maybe modern people are too tired to live, so there are many songs.

Reporter: Some people praised your painting as a "crossing version" painting-"integrating contemporary thinking into classical landscape figures." What reaction did you hear after your painting came out?

Lao Shu: The public is so interested in my paintings that it is far beyond my imagination. Of course, I also heard the reactions of many professional painters. They said, how can you draw so easily? We are all anxious and can't express ourselves so heartily. In fact, like them before, I was very nervous and attached great importance to this form and that specification. Later, I learned that painting is not self-expression. The best way to express it is to make people speak clearly. I used to take painting too seriously. Speak boldly, draw boldly, and that's all. When people reach a certain age, they all want to understand. I have been photographing for many years and publishing for more than ten years. My experience tells me that some things should not be taken too seriously. When I was a child, there were only a few things that I thought were precious. It doesn't matter if you have a lot.

Experience helped me find myself in writing.

Reporter: Then how can we put down what you said?

Laoshu: I haven't painted for 20 years, but I just don't think I can draw any more. This portrait of Qi Baishi looks like Xu Beihong, but not like himself. This makes me very depressed. I can't answer a question for myself. Who are you? How to prove your existence through your own painting language? I talked about the history of the Six Dynasties and the Seven Sages of Bamboo Forest in class, and I understood a truth. Who is Ji Kang? I'm Ji Kang. You don't understand and interpret him enough. The key is to experience him. You must feel the same way with him. You are him. This is a connection between ancient and modern times and between China and foreign countries. Some people say that I traveled from modern times to ancient times. In fact, everything is personal experience. How can I travel? We all attach too much importance to time and space. Who said this year is 20 12? Who said my name was Liu Shuyong? All this was originally decided by people. Understand this, and you will gain great freedom.

Reporter: In what year did you suddenly find yourself?

Uncle: In 2005, my father came to Beijing to see a doctor. At that time, I was depressed and restless, and I couldn't sleep at night, so I painted. Actually, I haven't painted for more than 20 years. I drew some pictures until dawn, and suddenly I felt a little interesting. All my previous anxieties are gone. My life experience has given my pen its own face. Facing a lonely lamp and holding a broken pen, I finally found myself. What center winger, dry and wet shades, all the rules, are gone. I find that this is enough, no matter what others say, painting is as simple as that.

Writing poetry and painting are just for the expression of happiness.

Reporter: What painting rules did you break?

Laoshu: In fact, traditional techniques will come back slowly in the process of painting, but they will not bind you, but nourish you. Ink painting is inherently meaningful. I'm not so scared when I draw. Who cares? I don't want anything in painting, I just want personal expression.

Reporter: Besides painting, is writing limerick your strong point?

Laoshu: My main business is Chinese, and writing poems is my profession. When I write a poem, I always think while writing. I wrote this sentence and I don't know what the next sentence is. Although I always write about growing and harvesting vegetables in the fields, in fact I don't have my own countryside, which is what I yearn for. However, after my work came out, some readers were very angry and said how it could be written like that, which was too out of rhythm. I don't want to argue any more. Freedom is fundamental. My understanding of painting is that there is no limit, as long as readers can understand it, so can writing poetry. Rhythm Just have fun.

Reporter: Do you paint for yourself or for the readers?

Laoshu: First of all, express yourself happily. Secondly, others will enjoy it. After this story spread in Weibo, at least 10 publishers came to me to publish it. This spring, Er Dongqiang, a photographer from Shanghai, also invited me to hold an exhibition at Er Dongqiang Art Center in Tianzifang. To tell the truth, I have been publishing 10 for many years, and I am not very interested in publishing books. I always say that books only stain clean paper.

Reporter: Your paintings must match those limericks. Is there a limit to the painting itself?

Laoshu: Some painters say that all my things are in the painting, and it's your business not to understand them. In fact, it is very ignorant. Painting does have something that cannot be expressed, and words can supplement this defect. Poetry is used to illustrate the picture, one is visual communication, the other is conceptual communication, and the two complement each other. There is a prejudice that there are not enough pictures and the words are fabricated. In fact, this is the limitation of painting language. China's painting is a combination of poetry and calligraphy.

As long as it points directly at people's hearts, it is a good painting.

Reporter: Your paintings have relieved many people's anxiety. Do you have anxiety in your life?

Shu: I also have anxiety disorder. Everyone has the same problem. Who can solve them? When you are anxious, you can meditate on yourself. Painting is also a kind of catharsis. There is really a sense of relaxation after painting. When you put the seal on it, you should have fun with yourself first. Then send it to Weibo to make readers happy.

Reporter: Many netizens are looking forward to your paintings. How do you feel after becoming popular?

Shu: I don't feel red. I just do what I like. To be famous, I am much more popular in the field of photography. I am a pessimistic perfectionist in my life. I pursue perfection, but I am pessimistic. So many great ideals of the past have not come true, which makes me very depressed. I have to comfort myself to be happy and do what I want.

Reporter: Many people say that your painting is very similar to Feng Zikai's. Is it a deliberate imitation?

Laoshu: Actually, it doesn't matter. I like the spirit of Mr. Feng Zikai. His paintings have the flavor and temperature of the Republic of China. I like the smell and tranquility. The so-called "quiet years" feeling. If Feng Zikai has an influence on me in the flavor and taste of his paintings, it should have no influence on pen and ink and modeling.

Laoshu: I once drew a picture for this. "Make sentences, draw yourself, no illusion, no nothingness. Where are the ancient and modern Chinese and foreign countries? Creating the environment is nothing more than intention. Don't tell me the difference between elegance and vulgarity, there is no difference in the world. Everything is animistic, and freedom is fundamental. " Painting is a free expression. As long as it points directly at people's hearts, it is a good painting.