This spring, in the most difficult days of Shanghai's fight against the new crown epidemic, many foreigners in Shanghai have also become an important force in keeping "Shanghai" with one heart. Some of them incarnate as "foreign whites" and devote themselves to volunteer service; Some are creative and share home tips; Some generously donated money to support the frontline of the fight against the epidemic... These heart-warming stories deeply touched The Haipai artist Li Shoubai. Using pen and watercolor as a form of expression, he created a series of comics on the theme of Shanghai foreigners fighting against the epidemic.
These vivid and positive paintings have been serialized on the "Shanghai Friendship Association" public account since May 18, attracting many Chinese and foreign readers to "chase more", and also allowing the warmth, unity, optimism and great love in the paintings to continue to be transmitted.
Haipai artist Li Shoubai is creating a series of paintings on the theme of shanghai foreigners fighting against the epidemic. Photo courtesy of the interviewee (same below)
I feel something in my heart to fight the epidemic with art
Li Shoubai, born in Shanghai in 1962, is good at painting and paper-cutting, and is now the vice chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Federation of Literature and Literature and the representative inheritor of the "intangible cultural heritage" Shanghai school of paper-cutting. His works have been exhibited all over the world and are loved by people at home and abroad.
"As an artist, it is my duty to cheer the fight against the epidemic with a paintbrush." Li Shoubai told reporters that during his days at home, he learned many stories about the fight against the epidemic of foreigners.
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In addition to being moved, he cooperated with the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and began to create a series of paintings on the theme of shanghai foreigners fighting against the epidemic. "I hope to use the paintbrush in my hand to pay tribute to the foreigners who are guarding 'Shanghai' with one heart, and portray the 'epidemic' style of this group of 'not outsiders, but Ara's own family'." He spoke out in the interview.
Sealing control at home, the painting tools at hand are not complete, so Li Shoubai considered using the simplest, fastest, and most responsive way to create the picture effect, and pen watercolor comics became the best choice.
Focus on features carefully created
The Shanghai Foreigners' Anti-epidemic Theme Painting Series project has promoted nearly 50 works, and as of June 14, 27 have been met with readers. Behind each painting is a true and heartwarming story.
Ma Xingxing, an Armenian girl and volunteer of the community's "Little Blue", is the protagonist of the opening painting. On days when she didn't leave home, she used antigenic kits to make necklaces and earrings, used the cabbage in the "love package" as a cake to celebrate her birthday, and recorded videos to cheer people in isolation. Li Shoubai decided to freeze the first comic with the special birthday of the stars.
Ma Xingxing, an Armenian volunteer who made ornaments with antigenic reagents and celebrated his birthday with a "cabbage cake"
April 15 this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mauritius. Muhn Siboyou, a Mauritian, said: "All the residents living in this city are part of the fight against the epidemic. Mauritian friends in Shanghai also recorded a video cheering for Shanghai.
Li Shoubai ingeniously integrates the Chinese character "Shanghai" and the Oriental Pearl Radio and Television Tower, a landmark in Shanghai, implying that Mauritian friends live in the big family of Shanghai, helping to fight the epidemic and cheering for Shanghai, "we are together".
Mauritian friends "together" with Shanghai
Mei Lin, a 10-year-old mixed Chinese and American race, is one of the few children among the protagonists of the painting. In mid-April, their family's neighborhood became the first batch of "prevention areas" in Changning District. Fearing that stray animals don't have enough food during the pandemic, feeding them is the first thing Merlin does when she goes out. In Li Shoubai's view, the child's childlike heart, love for animals, and love for the community are the shining points of the city in the epidemic.
Merlin, a 10-year-old girl, takes care of stray cats. Her community has a Chinese and foreign volunteer team called "Mao Children Guardian Group", who do not forget to care for the small animals around them during the epidemic
Li Shoubai also composed the original anti-epidemic song "Shanghai Wind" recorded by 28 Japanese friends in Shanghai - 28 musicians either sang emotionally or performed different instruments, accompanied by beautiful Shanghai street scenes, cheering for Shanghai together.
28 Japanese music partners used original songs to cheer up shanghai's fight against the epidemic
Freeze the beautiful even the heart outside
After the launch of the Shanghai Foreigners' Anti-epidemic Theme Painting Series, it was warmly welcomed by the protagonists of the paintings and netizens, many of whom "chased after the change" every day and could not wait to send a circle of friends to share.
Around this batch of paintings, the Shanghai Friendship Association is planning a series of Chinese and foreign people-to-people exchange activities, including exhibitions. At the special invitation of the Yangtze River Delta Public Diplomacy Association, some of the paintings also participated in the "New Era, New Changes, New Developments - Yangtze River Delta Calligraphy and Painting Photography Exhibition" opened on June 10.
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Now, Li Shoubai is about to complete the last main painting, tentatively titled "Love Shanghai", which will end the entire series of paintings.
Looking back on more than a month of creation, Li Shoubai feels that in the same earth, people all over the world share a common destiny, no matter what difficulties they encounter, as long as they have their own responsibilities and the direction of joint efforts, any difficulties can be solved. "People always have to have a little spirit, in the face of difficulties, first of all, calm, secondly, do not add chaos, and secondly, can use their own skills to make some contributions to this society, that is the greatest happiness." 」
"I hope that through my artistic creation, I will freeze the beauty and convey the temperature and strength of the friendship between Chinese and foreign people in the special period." Li Shoubai said.
Xinmin Evening News reporter Wang Jiaye