Stone exhibition is like a weight —— Tea narration with stone critic Mr. Shen Kuan

Stone exhibition, a steelyard —— An interview with Mr. Shen Kuan, a famous stone connoisseur

Text/Yang Dayi

Yang dayi

China Ornamental Stone 3

Youshi tea house

Stone collector teahouse

Venue: Meeting Room of China Ornamental Stone Association

Tea tasting: Tieguanyin

About 3 minutes ago, we met in the corridor of the office building of China Ornamental Stone Association. He looked dusty and said that he had just moved several boxes of stones somewhere. We stood first, then sat on the sofa in the corner of the corridor and began to talk. From the theory of offering stones by literati to smelting inkstones, from calligraphy and literati painting to meticulous painting, to modern printmaking and newspaper layout design. Shen Kuan's peace talks are quite strong, and he is tired after moving stones. I have become interested in listening to them and have long forgotten the interview tasks arranged by the editorial department.

Indeed, Shen Kuan is a heavy book. No matter which page you turn to, it is durable and readable. And the magnanimity of "not having enough to eat and living without a fixed place" makes people vaguely feel the legacy of the seven gentlemen of that year.

"Hey, why are you sitting here? I have opened the door of the big conference room. " If Sister Qiu doesn't understand something, let's smile at each other, like three teenagers who have done something wrong, and stop rambling.

In the spacious meeting room, the disposable paper cups on the coffee table wafted with rich fragrance, which was the "Tieguanyin" boutique specially made by Guohua. I turned the book to the relevant page.

Q: As far as we know, in the past ten years, Mr. Wang has been invited as a judge every year and participated in exhibitions and trade fairs held in various places. Can you tell me how you feel?

Shen: The judges of the stone exhibition are not easy to be.

Stone criticism is a process from practice to theory and then from practice to theory. The height of Mount Everest can still be measured when it enters the cloud, but this process of continuous sublimation and development is endless. You don't just have to publish a few papers to qualify as a judge, you have to be knowledgeable. See more and compare, know more and identify. And I think this knowledge should not be limited to the major of stone culture. An excellent stone critic must have a wide range of knowledge, profound knowledge of literature and aesthetics, and comprehensive artistic accomplishment of tradition and modernity. With knowledge, you have to look at character. The referee is immoral, worse than the "black whistle" on the football field. People are not all-rounders. As far as stone species are concerned, there are as many stars as there are, and no one can be familiar with them completely. As a judge, we should be brave in asking questions and avoid pretending that we don't know anything and making mistakes. Respect for organizers and hosts should also be a professional ethics, and suggestions can be made. You can't get off the bus and pretend to be authoritative.

Over the years, many places have asked me to be a judge, and I thank the stone friends for their trust in me. But I also have my own choices, and not all of them are invited. I attach great importance to the organizers and their reputations in the society. I generally decline exhibitions that are purely for profit.

Q: In your opinion, what is the key to a good stone exhibition?

Shen: I have some opinions on whether the exhibition can be successful. In terms of time, it depends not on the duration of the exhibition, but on whether the preparation period is sufficient. The preparation period is long, the preparation work is easy to be done fully, and the invitation letter is sent early. On the whole, the exhibition should be better. According to the theory of financial resources, the economic base determines the superstructure. The purpose of the stone appreciation exhibition, which has always been effective, is not to collect money, but to invest in the development of stone appreciation culture. The strength of financial support plays an important role in the stone appreciation exhibition. On the premise of talent theory, policies and funds in place, the key to running the exhibition well lies in talent. It is generally easy to focus on the composition of the leading group, which is Bole; Talking about talents refers to a swift horse, that is, to form a working team full of vigor, good at fighting and dedication. From the environmental point of view, the hardware and stone decoration of the exhibition hall is a hot topic, with elegant exhibition taste and the best atmosphere. However, due to various factors, we should also understand the difficulties of the host. According to the word-of-mouth theory, the word-of-mouth of hosts, organizers and sponsors is a factor that is easily overlooked and difficult to measure clearly. It is not only the most important software, but also the most valuable cause. The value of intangible assets is irreplaceable by tangible assets.

Also, it is not a seminar to discuss success or failure. Sometimes there are seminars, sometimes there are no seminars. The success of the exhibition should not be used as a criterion. Now some seminars, if called symposiums, are more appropriate and cordial; Otherwise, the seminar will become a mere formality, not to mention the results. How many norms are not attended by "leaders"? "Leaders" at any level love stone appreciation and enthusiastically support the cultural cause of stone appreciation. The stone appreciation community is very welcome and happy. However, the specifications and success or failure of the stone appreciation exhibition are ultimately not evaluated by the number of "leaders" present; Otherwise, the host will be overwhelmed and unbearable.

Now, China stone industry has its own authoritative association-China Ornamental Stone Association. Relying on the leadership of the association, strengthen cooperation with all localities. I am convinced that stone exhibitions at home and abroad will be better and better.

Q: Some people say that the stone industry in China has ushered in the spring of stone auction. what do you think?

Shen: Stone auction is not only a commercial activity, but also has a strong cultural and artistic atmosphere. It should be presided over by people who know both auction and stone, and prepare very feasible conditions and reports. In my opinion, at present, such "dual-understanding" talents are rare, really not many.

The maturity of the market and the growth of talents need a time process. Now it is said that the world of Tibetan stone is famous and fast, which is incomparable to any other art category and enviable. Here, we quote Premier Zhou Enlai's eight-character policy of "adjustment, consolidation, enrichment and improvement" to warn the stone appreciation community that spring will come sooner or later, regardless of the big climate, the small environment, the birth of talents and the cultivation of the market. At present, I just want to say that it is not mature for the special auction of ornamental stones to reach the level of other lots (calligraphy and painting, porcelain, jade, wood, etc.). ), but it is feasible to have ornamental stones in miscellaneous products. (Photography/Cui Kai)