Do emotional things with a rational attitude
In Sui Mou's artistic career, Lu Chen was an unavoidable figure. He not only taught him how to draw, but also taught him how to be a man. Therefore, we can vaguely see the shadow of Lu Chen in Sui, his earnest and persistent pursuit of art, and his humble and sincere attitude towards people. Perhaps, for Sui, Lu Chen is no longer a teacher, but a relative and friend.
Yi Huan, formerly known as Sui Mou, Sui Yu, Sui, 1968, was born in Qingdao, Shandong. He studied under Mr. Shi Qi and Mr. Lu Chen successively. Now he lives in Beijing and teaches at the Painting Academy of China Renmin University.
Art newspaper: Have you always been such a quiet person?
Sui: In fact, everyone has two sides. The side you often show is actually the one that suits you best. I am not a person who likes to communicate with others very much, and I am introverted. It turns out that before I painted, I thought it was hard to do other things, and I really wanted to paint in my bones. I want to paint in my bones, but nothing else, neither of them. Later, I chose painting. At first, I thought it was simple. I hope it will be finished in a few years, but it is not the case.
Art newspaper: What do you think is the most important thing to learn from Mr. Lu?
Sui: If you learn from other teachers, you may have learned a skill, just like carpenters and bricklayers in buildings. But from Mr. Lu, you need to learn to design and build your own buildings, which is essentially different. Teacher Lu's greatest advantage is that he can know what is missing in your knowledge structure at a glance. He asks you to perfect an element, and it may take you half a year to do it. It's hard for others to see,
Art newspaper: He trained you as an artist, not just painting.
Sui: Yes, the important thing is not technology. I have been with Teacher Lu for four years. I have been with Mr. Lu since I graduated in 2000, and I have been with him since he was hospitalized. Many of Mr. Lu's students are very busy, but they all come in shifts. I spend more time with him, because I am more free and have deep feelings with Teacher Lu. I am willing to accompany him.
Art newspaper: Mr. Lu's students usually have more contact, so you draw this face less.
Sui: It may be related to my failure to enter the college, and Teacher Lu didn't specifically ask me to do anything.
Art newspaper: Is it based on your original development?
Sui: Yes, Mr. Lu is looking at what I lack and what I need to make up. This one suits me better.
Art newspaper: When did you draw lotus flowers and birds?
Sui Mou: This is a painting method when I studied under Mr. Shi Qi in Beijing Painting Academy.
Art Newspaper: But your pictures reflect that you have not entered the color system of Shi Qi either.
Sui: No, I avoided it.
Art newspaper: Have you been going your own way during your study?
Sui: I do things differently from others. I have strong goals. For example, when I do something, I do it for a while, and then I do it exclusively. Solve one problem at a time, one step at a time. Do it rationally.
Art newspaper: Chinese painting is actually a very emotional art.
Sui: Perception is often based on rationality.
Painting and gambling are generally risky.
Looking at Sui's gentleness now, I may never have thought that he also experienced those bleak years, with no food and no name. Perhaps most of us will have this stage in our lives, and ordinary people may give up their ideals and take a more convenient and practical road. Even if they live a carefree life in the future, they still have irreparable shortcomings. A few people persisted, and although they were very painful, they were reborn in the end. Ideal and reality are not irreconcilable contradictions. Perseverance and perseverance can finally yield the most fruitful fruits.
Art newspaper: Have you systematically analyzed your position?
Sui Mou: Wang Guowei compared the three sentences of "West Wind Last Night" in Yan Shu's "Butterfly Lovers" with the words of Liu Yong and Xin Qiji to the three realms of scholarship. The first level is: last night, the west wind withered the green trees, and I went up to the tall building alone and looked at the horizon. The second realm is that the belt is getting wider and wider, and people will not regret it and will be haggard for Iraq. The third level is: the crowd searched for him for thousands of Baidu, and suddenly looking back, the man was in the dim light. The reason is actually very simple, that is, you don't know which road is right for you until you take more roads. Being a man and doing things are the same, find a position that suits you. I don't engage in group activities, I don't do anything, I just do my own thing and do what I think suits me.
Art newspaper: in this case, it will be more difficult to achieve those established successes, such as selling paintings well.
Sui: That must be. I have been in Beijing 1 1 year. I have been studying for six years. During these six years, I never knew what selling paintings was. I used to rely on my parents and savings, but later I borrowed money. My worst time was before Mr. Lu was hospitalized, when I rented a house and had fifty cents left in my pocket. I curled up on the sofa and cried. My family is very supportive.
Art newspaper: Then don't you dare. It's hard to say whether this road is successful or not.
Sui: Yes, painting is actually like gambling, which is very risky.
Art newspaper: So how do you feel now?
Sui: I'm glad I can go this way. At the beginning, many friends came with us. Everyone's purpose is different, and the final result is definitely different. I just really want to do what I want to do. God is fair, how much you pay, how much he rewards you. When you reach a high level, it may be difficult for you to stop doing so.
Art newspaper: I watched your album. Your most obvious style is lotus, and later it is many ladies', mainly lines.
Sui: My paintings are most influenced by Mr. Lu. He said I should be like a building. You can open more windows to let the sunshine in. As for whether you will draw figures or flowers and birds in the future, you can't draw a conclusion yet. I have dabbled in many things, such as landscapes, figures, calligraphy, flowers and birds, including seal cutting, but I am still exploring many things. As for what to do in the future, we still need a groping process. During this period, the most talked about is one's interest in character modeling and the other's lines. Teacher Lu played Tai Ji Chuan every day when he was in hospital, and I watched him play Tai Ji Chuan every day, which had a great influence.
Art newspaper: What traces of your art come from traditional culture?
Sui: I used to practice calligraphy every morning. Every day, many people come to visit Mi Fei, Wen Zhiming, Wang Xizhi and so on, but at that time, there was no law. I did it every day, and for a long time I got nothing, and then I stopped. After a pause, Mr. Lu asked me to draw characters and sketch. We lived in Xiangxi for half a year in 2003. He asked us to draw pictures on our backs and tick some manuscripts according to our memories and feelings before going to bed every day. Based on your feelings. He said that to show a painter's ability is to face a blank sheet of paper and forget what he has learned.
Art newspaper: It's hard to see some traces of current modeling in your current paintings.
Sui: But even if you draw an ancient man, his every move, turning around and being upright all need your control. Will not waste time. As Teacher Lu said, poor painting proves that you don't know what to do. If there is no gully in the chest, it will be very difficult to write.
Art newspaper: Do you think this is a process of accumulation?
Sui: Yes, these things are accumulated. It also has something to do with my study of Buddhism. Learning Buddhism makes me calm. When you have no distractions, you will be serious, selfless and devoted. I'm chasing two things now, one is slow. I draw slowly. In addition, I pay attention to the pressure, including using pen, ink and paper, and finally mounting. Think about everything one by one and know everything.
Art newspaper: Does what you are doing now make you happy?
Sui: Very happy. It's just that it's not difficult to do it, and I put my true feelings into it when I do it.
The way of life is in a wet world.
The introverted Sui's style is not flattering in today's art circle. Today, most painters understand the benefits of market operation and media publicity. Sui Mou neither talks about his artistic ideas in front of everyone, nor studies the good price of a market everywhere. What is he doing? Yes, painting at home in the suburbs, his people and his paintings seem to have nothing to do with the noisy world outside.
Art newspaper: What kind of environment do you like to paint?
Sui: I like to draw in a quiet situation. I used to like listening to the radio, but later I stopped listening to the radio. I think it's a waste of time. I can't have both. When you are multitasking, you can't even walk into your own story, let alone touch others.
Art newspaper: How do you keep your mind in the face of some very material and impetuous things outside?
Sui: The way to survive is to be involved in the world. In fact, it has nothing to do with society, but more about our own state. This is very important.
Art newspaper: What do you want to bring to people who look at your paintings?
Sui: At least when I draw, I am very active, healthy and motivated. Now I draw mostly Buddhist things, which is a kind of enjoyment for people's mental state.
Art newspaper: So how do people who have seen your paintings feel so far?
Sui: Many people give me comments that are very quiet and Zen. I think this is also an effect I hope to convey.
Art newspaper: Are you born with such a quiet personality?
Sui: Birth is on the one hand, and the circle is also a big factor. I was greatly influenced by the old nursery. He was enlightened, sensible, experienced a lot and spent a long time practicing Buddhism. He belongs to a monk in the family. His usual attitude has a great influence on me.
Art newspaper: Do you have any hobbies besides guqin?
Sui: I just read books and like to sketch. I prefer going to the suburbs. Some time ago, we also went to Huangshan to sketch. Find what you want and feel it with your heart. If I see an old man with a lot of arhat breath, I must
It's fate to draw him and let me meet him. I can't give up easily.
Don't want to be a "captive" person
At present, the most lively and fashionable thing in Chinese painting circle is to engage in experiments and modernization exploration. It seems a little different that Sui has always adhered to tradition. Because in his view, art is not a deliberate thing, and the artist's direct feelings and preferences determine his artistic choice. Although it may be thankless, although it may lose a lot of hard-won benefits, but since you choose to be an artist, the real artist is destined to be a few lonely people, so Sui has safely completed his own path.
Art newspaper: Are all your characters based on lines?
Sui: I chose the line because it is simple. I don't want to paint beautifully, I prefer to inject my feelings into it.
Art newspaper: How long do you paint every day now?
Sui: I used to paint all day, but now my cervical spine is getting unbearable, so I don't paint at night.
Art newspaper: You have suffered a lot along the way. What prompted you to step down firmly?
Sui: I know one thing. One can only do one thing well. It is enough for you to do your own thing.
Art newspaper: Why do you always have a soft spot for tradition, but seldom involve the contemporary?
Sui: I am greatly influenced by my grandfather. At that time, my grandfather's family composition was not good. He collected some bottles, jars and ancient paintings at home. He also likes to write poems and brush calligraphy, and many friends drink tea and talk about poems together. This kind of atmosphere became my first and most ignorant feeling, but it has always affected me.
Art newspaper: What do you think of New literati paintings?
Sui: These people are role models for us to learn, and they are doing very well. I like Zhu Xinjian's paintings very much. Qi Baishi is actually a typical literati painting.
Art newspaper: In fact, you have to overcome many temptations when you take this road.
Sui: Yes, you should resist the temptation. If you lose yourself and do what others want to do, it is impossible to go deep and far. I did what I should do at my age. Many of the predecessors I saw in the painting world were wonderful when they first showed their edge. It was after they showed their edge that they didn't explore themselves further because they didn't have time. At this stage, we are still in the latent stage, and no one has left you. Just calm down and do what you should do. Perfect yourself, you can withstand any storm.
Art newspaper: What is your ideal state?
Sui: I think our present state is the best and the most beautiful. You can do what you want every day. There are like-minded friends and some people like your paintings. They can feed themselves and still paint quietly. I don't want to be a "captive" person. Actually, I used to hope so. Losing freedom is actually a very terrible thing for painters. Just like practitioners, enlightened people don't have to wear robes. Hua Xin chan Yu