Li Congwen
Journey of Growth
When Liu Wei set about preparing this solo exhibition, he was full of anticipation. However, as time went by, the original excitement faded away and confusion overtook him. In nearly four months, he didn’t paint anything for the reason that he felt a little bit lost.
Liu Wei does not have much fantasy about his own works. In terms of painting, he is very down-to-earth. He never “highly appreciates” his own works. Instead, he knows he still has a long way to go. After having completed such good works as Merry-go-round, The Distant Place, and Bumper Crop, he did not express excitement at and satisfaction with success. On the contrary, he was acutely aware of the fact that his career would come to an end if he did not let go of these achievements and make breakthroughs.
For this reason, he once wished to present a new self in this solo exhibition and bring the audience brand-new pictures, completely abandoning his former techniques and emotions. According to his feelings, the flavor he presented was supposed to be fresh, bright, full, and simple as well. It should be such kind of feeling: The starry night faded away and the morning sun flooded the earth with a gentle light. However, he found that such kind of sudden change of feelings did not come true as he wished. His former works were like a strong fortress and he was boxed in it. It was so hard to break through it during the creation. As a result, he felt very upset and incompetent.
Liu Wei’s situation is actually like rowing up rapids. While facing so many rocks on the water, what will you pray for? Will you pray for the rocks being moved or the water rising and submerging them?
Liu Wei chose the latter. Through a long time of exploration and introspection, he realized that the characteristics of his former works also belonged to him. There was no need to flatly reject them. What he really needed was further growth. Then the heavy rocks on his back can also turn into solid foundations underfoot.
Liu Wei has really grown. The starry night has not completely disappeared yet, but the light becomes brighter and brighter.
Meaning of Life
It is meaningless to teach a fish which can only survive in water how to fly. Even though you make a detailed training and flying plan for it, it still cannot fly up due to its physical limitations. However, a bird can fly freely without any training at all.
Therefore, in a sense, “to be” is way more important than “to do”.
Liu Wei hopes to convey positive energy in his pictures. He is quite severe with himself. While conceiving a new picture, he will deliberate over his emotions again and again before starting to paint it. As a result, there are many abandoned pictures in his studio. Actually, many of these pictures are well-conceived, but in Liu Wei’s view, it is meaningless to keep on painting them, because they are “congenitally deficient”.
Subjects like depression, restlessness, darkness, and laziness once had great appeal for Liu Wei, especially during his college years. However, he soon realized that these emotions could never become the driving force behind his career. In his words, “I cannot be depressed all the time”. So he began to look for something to support himself long. Although it is hard to put it into words, Liu Wei senses that it is something positive like light or life. In Liu Wei’s opinion, only in this way can he make further progress.
I think Liu Wei made a wise choice. Negative emotions often lead people into deep thinking of death, which fascinates many people, for those who stands on the edge of the abyss would often look down into it involuntarily. However, from my perspective, life is greater than death—the seed which drops into the ground seems dead, but it is actually pregnant with new life and will produce plentiful fruits in the near future.
In analyzing his own personalities, Liu Wei once said: "Speaking of the so-called 'local color’, I think it contains two-fold meanings—country flavor and soil smell, and I prefer the former to the latter”. Country flavor reminds me of novels by Mr. Shen Congwen , in which there are bright countryside landscapes and simple folk customs. Nevertheless, soil smell often reminds people of darkness and decay.
Lifetime of Learning
While communicating with Liu Wei, I find he never stops learning.
He often learns new things and analyzes his own shortcomings meanwhile. After he finished a series of pictures, what he wants is not to add several more new pictures to this series, but to break the set pattern and paint something different, which is typically Liu Wei 's style---never stop absorbing better things.
People would often get arrogant and overbearing once they make some achievements. However, Liu Wei often keeps his mind cool and tries to make further growth, which is really hard since you have to give up many precious things constantly.
Therefore, whenever talking about his pictures, Liu Wei seldom feels excited and proud. Instead, he often makes analysis of his pictures and set new standards for himself. Liu Wei is "on his way " and making progress step by step, just like a flourishing plant which is deeply rooted in the earth.
Although it is hard to tell what kind of achievement Liu Wei can make in the future, I am looking forward to it, for he never rests on his laurels and is always ready to try something new.
