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Text: Cha Sakura Boy
Editor|Cha Sakura Boy
Preface
In the Chinese art world, there is a painter named Li Zhuangping, who has made an unprecedented attempt: to vividly present the mysterious "mountain ghost" depicted by the ancient poet Qu Yuan in his poem "Nine Songs" in the form of realistic oil painting.
Uniquely, Li Zhuangping chose a special model to assist in the completion of this series of works, and that is his own daughter.
In the six-year creative process, the daughter not only became the spiritual "mountain ghost" under her father's brush, but also became the core of more than 100 artistic portraits showing the beauty of the human body.
These paintings are not only highly skilled, but also attract attention for their unique story and creative methods, and their market value is extraordinary.
Some collectors have been so attracted to Li Zhuangping's works that they have offered to pay up to $15 million to buy one of them.
In the face of such an attractive offer, Li Zhuangping resolutely refused the transaction, showing his deep appreciation for the work and the artistic value it contains.
Li Zhuangping's move has sparked widespread heated discussions in society, and public opinion has shown obvious polarization.
On the one hand, he was harshly criticized for having his adult daughter as a nude model, especially for six years, as a blatant challenge to traditional ethics and morality, and a sign of disrespect for the elderly.
They are concerned that such a practice may have a negative impact on their daughter or create a bad example in society.
On the other hand, there are also some people who have a positive attitude, believing that Li Zhuangping has broken through the shackles of secular concepts with practical actions, and has set an example for the pursuit of artistic purity and freedom of expression.
They praised him for daring to break the mold and sacrifice his personal reputation in order to achieve his selfless dedication to the arts.
Despite the controversy, Li Zhuangping has been given a symbolic title by the outside world for his maverick artistic practice and persistent pursuit of art—"Wild Painter".
This title not only reflects his independent spirit and innovative courage on the path of art, but also alludes to his image of being as resilient and unyielding as a weed in the wilderness in the face of mainstream ideas.
【1】
Using his own daughter as a model to create nude oil paintings, he detonated a dispute between ethics and art
The practice of nude sketching originated in the Western world, which has given rise to many great works that are breathtaking, such as Michelangelo's sculpture "David", which vividly shows the beauty of human courage and strength.
In the early 20th century, under the guidance of the Qing government in China, the art world began to absorb and borrow from Western art under the guidance of the idea of "mastering the art of mastering and mastering the art of the country".
At that time, art giants Qi Baishi and Liu Haisu were at the forefront, and Liu Haisu was the first artist in China to hold a "nude art exhibition", which opened up new horizons for Chinese art.
China's traditional cultural concepts are relatively conservative and reserved, and it is difficult to accept nude art that directly depicts the human body, especially on the topic of gender differences.
When Liu Haisu and others tried to introduce and promote nude art, not only did they not get widespread understanding and support, but instead attracted the opposition and accusations of many conservative people, and even the principal of a girls' school wrote an article openly criticizing such exhibitions as vulgar.
With the passage of time and social progress, people's perception of nude art has gradually changed, mannequins have become a formal profession, and the degree of social acceptance of them has increased significantly, and the use of mannequins for creation has become commonplace in the art circle.
For example, Leng Jun, an important figure in the Chinese realist school, once created portraits of his wife Xiao Luo, and Yang Feiyun, a master of painting, was also keen to depict the human figure of his wife Tong Pengpeng, and even Jin Shangyi, the president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, created a series of excellent oil paintings of the human body in his later years, such as "The Girl Looking Out the Window".
Among this series of painters, Li Zhuangping's approach is particularly unique, he chose his own daughter as a model for nude oil paintings, which caused an unprecedented shock in the art world and even the whole society.
Some people in the art world believe that the core of painting lies in artistic expression, and the creative relationship between father and daughter should not be excessively magnified, and attention should be focused on the artistic value of the work.
Another voice insisted that "children avoid their mothers, and daughters avoid their fathers", and that artistic creation cannot break through the basic bottom line of ethics and morality in any case, so they sharply criticized Li Zhuangping's behavior, and pointed out that this move will inevitably attract criticism.
Some people even speculate that the father and daughter may use this move to hype up and spark a topic.
In the face of complicated evaluations from the outside world, Li Zhuangping showed steadfastness, emphasizing their frank and selfless attitude towards art, while his daughter Li Qin also said that dedicating herself to art, especially for her father's artistic ideals, is an extremely pure thing.
As the incident continued to ferment, Li Zhuangping's works were boldly quoted by foreign magazines, and some vile and insulting remarks filled the ears.
Li Qin, who was at the center of the whirlpool of public opinion, could not bear the mental damage caused by those malicious comments, and often hid and cried alone, and was even afraid to go out to see relatives and friends.
Seeing that his daughter was deeply troubled, Li Zhuangping couldn't help but waver in his choice: Was it really wrong to decide to let his daughter be a model in the first place?
【2】
The dream of the mountain ghost and the nude model problem
Li Zhuangping, a native of Sichuan, was born in 1948 in a remote mountain village in the southwest of the motherland with extremely difficult economic conditions.
Although he often faced the situation of lack of food when he was a child, his obsession and love for the art of painting took root in his heart early on, and although it seemed that it was not enough to fill his stomach at the time, this hobby became the pillar of his spiritual world.
With the passage of time, Li Zhuangping gradually emerged in Sichuan with his unremitting efforts and talents, and became an amphibious artist of oil painting and Chinese painting with a certain reputation and influence in the local and even the whole country.
Li Zhuangping is not satisfied with the artistic achievements he has made, he has a persistent pursuit of the pinnacle of art, looking forward to achieving greater breakthroughs in creation and creating more artistic appeal and depth of works.
One day, when he was studying Qu Yuan's masterpiece "Nine Songs: Mountain Ghosts", he was deeply touched by the image of mountain ghosts depicted in it.
Mountain ghosts play the role of sacred idols in the folk beliefs of the Xiajiang Valley, and are also highly symbolic symbols in Chu culture.
Li Zhuangping came up with a bold artistic idea: to strip the image of the mountain ghost from myths and legends, and give it the purity and refinement of a human girl, so as to express the harmonious coexistence between man and nature, as well as the primitive beauty of "Beauty and the Beast".
In order to put this idea into practice, Li Zhuangping set out to find a nude model that would perfectly interpret the image of the "mountain ghost" in his mind.
This seemingly simple task turned out to be a difficult journey that took more than a decade.
The reality is that in China's major art academies, it is often the elderly men and women who have been working as nude models for a long time, and their bodies have gone through the baptism of time, but they lack the youthful vitality and natural beauty.
Young handsome men and women are rarely willing to accept the job of nude models for various reasons, and even if there are occasional applicants who meet the age requirements, they often fail to meet Li Zhuangping's demanding artistic standards for various reasons, making his dream of "mountain ghost" unfulfilled.
【3】
How Li Zhuangping's father and daughter overcome ethical challenges and create an artistic legend together
Li Zhuangping has a grand artistic project in mind - to create a large-scale oil painting "Mountain Ghost" inspired by Qu Yuan's poem "Nine Songs: Mountain Ghosts".
To vividly present the image of the girl in the poem with a graceful figure and a unique temperament, riding a red leopard chasing love on the canvas, it is obviously impossible for him to complete it alone.
He urgently needed to find a mannequin who could perfectly interpret the characteristics of female mountain ghosts.
At that time, the social atmosphere was far less open than it is today, and people had many prejudices and taboos about nude models, which undoubtedly made it more difficult for Li Zhuangping to find suitable models.
In order to find the "mountain ghost" in his mind, Li Zhuangping worked tirelessly, often shuttling through the streets and alleys, trying to capture the ideal shadow from the bustling crowd.
Although many women pass by every day, they are either out of temperament or in poor shape, and they have never been able to impress this demanding artist.
Four years passed quietly, Li Zhuangping's search journey gradually fell into difficulties, and the deep disappointment and frustration began to grow, and the dream of creating "Mountain Ghost" seemed to be drifting away.
Just when Li Zhuangping was almost desperate and about to give up, an unexpected figure unexpectedly broke into his sight.
This person is not a strange passerby, but his immature daughter Li Qin, who has always been in his impression.
Because Li Qin has lived with his grandparents for a long time, Li Zhuangping still subconsciously sees him as that innocent little girl.
Li Qin, who was standing in front of him at this moment, was no longer the appearance in his memory, but a pure and lovely girl with a graceful figure, whose temperament and image were amazingly consistent with the female mountain ghost depicted in his heart.
In addition to the surprise, Li Zhuangping had a bold idea in his heart: to invite his daughter to become a model of "Mountain Ghost".
This decision was not taken lightly, and he was well aware of the ethical controversy and family resistance it could face.
With apprehension, Li Zhuangping first confessed his idea to his wife.
Surprisingly, the wife did not show the slightest resistance, but was quick to support.
She knew that her husband was an upright man with an almost devout dedication to art, and would never think anything wrong about her daughter.
With his wife's understanding and approval, half of the big stone in Li Zhuangping's heart fell to the ground.
The real test came from her daughter Li Qin.
When Li Zhuangping cautiously made this request to his daughter, Li Qin's reaction was not as he expected.
She was firmly against it, fearing that her classmates would misunderstand and criticize her after learning about the incident.
Considering his daughter's feelings and the importance of her studies, Li Zhuangping did not force it and respected her decision.
Despite this, Li Zhuangping has not given up looking for a model, and he still hopes for an opportunity in the future.
The turning point came a year after Li Qin entered art school.
Under the influence of professional art, Li Qin has a deeper understanding of the art of painting, and she realizes that artistic creation often needs to boldly break through the conventions and challenge the world's concepts.
Coupled with the fact that the model is her beloved father, she believes that there is nothing extraordinary, but can be regarded as a kind of artistic dedication and family affection.
So, Li Qin took the initiative to find his father and expressed his willingness to become a model for "Mountain Ghost".
Although Li Zhuangping was overjoyed by his daughter's change in attitude, he knew that this collaboration was not a short-term affair, and that the creation of "Mountain Ghost" was a time-consuming and highly focused task.
He worries that if his daughter is a model, how to maintain that pure and immaculate atmosphere during the long creative process, without any interference from the outside world.
To this end, Li Zhuangping decided to have an in-depth conversation with his daughter, detailing his creative plan and special requirements for the role of model.
To his gratification, Li Qin understood and accepted his concerns, and was willing to cooperate with his father in a closed creation to ensure the purity of the artwork.
At this point, the father and daughter duo have overcome the moral barrier and regarded the modeling process as an integral part of artistic creation, and they have worked together to present the poetic picture of "Mountain Ghost" to the world.
Their courage and tacit understanding not only made an artistic story, but also left a strong mark on each other's lives.
【4】
Giving up love for art, the daughter promised to stay in the best condition to help her father realize his dream of creating oil paintings of the human body
It's no secret that the process of going from conception to final completion of a painting is extremely time-consuming, sometimes taking months or even years.
In this long creative process, any small change can have a huge impact on the work.
Especially for mannequins, if their emotional state or emotional life changes during the creation period, the temperament and eyes of the mannequin themselves will inevitably fluctuate, and these subtle changes are likely to affect the vitality and authenticity of the whole painting.
It was with this in mind that the painter made a special request to his daughter whether she could temporarily refrain from being involved in romantic relationships during the long time she was working as a model, in order to maintain her current mental state and physical characteristics.
To his relief, his daughter Li Qin did not hesitate after hearing this request, but decisively agreed.
In her view, helping her father realize such a haunting wish is not only a support for his many years of artistic pursuit, but also a deep understanding and selfless dedication between family members.
【5】
The persistence of the supremacy of art and the difficult road to recognition
At the beginning of Li Qin's official becoming the nude model in her father's Li Zhuangping's paintings, although she had full psychological expectations, when she really took off her clothes and stood naked in front of her father, the pressure and tension in her heart were still difficult to suppress.
This nervousness not only makes her look restrained when standing, but also causes her movements and expressions to not flow naturally, which is undoubtedly a great obstacle to artistic creation.
Li Zhuangping is well aware of his daughter's inner struggle, in order to relieve her tension, he specially invited his wife to accompany Li Qin, and his wife told Li Qin's childhood anecdotes from time to time, breaking the subtle embarrassment between father and daughter due to this special situation with a relaxed topic.
With the warm company and continuous encouragement of his parents, Li Qin gradually overcame his initial discomfort and began to be able to freely pose in various necessary postures according to his father's creative intentions.
As a result, this special family formed a silent tacit understanding in the studio, and the paintings carrying the common effort were quietly born.
Time flies, five years have passed in a hurry, Li Zhuangping's "Oriental Goddess Mountain Ghost Series" painting is nearing the end, and Li Qin's performance as a model is becoming more and more handy.
Whenever her father finishes a new painting, she will take the initiative to step forward with her father to carefully examine every detail of the painting, sharing the joy and sense of accomplishment of creation.
On May 12, 2008, the Wenchuan earthquake that shocked the world suddenly occurred, and Li Zhuangping's father and daughter in Deyang, Sichuan Province also felt the violent tremors.
Despite the current disaster, they were concentrating on their work in the studio at that time, and Li Zhuangping was unwilling to interrupt the flow of inspiration, so he resolutely decided to stick to the studio and complete the unfinished part of his hand.
Touchingly, Li Qin made the same decision without prior consultation with his father.
She maintained the static state that a model should have, allowing the outside world to shake constantly, until her father completed the final stroke, and then quickly evacuated the dilapidated house with her father.
At that moment, their dedication and devotion to art transcended life and death, and that painting already had a value beyond life in their hearts.
At the end of 2008, the paintings of the Oriental Goddess and Mountain Ghost Series were finally completed after hard work, and Li Zhuangping was full of excitement to invite professional photographers to shoot these works one by one, and carefully made them into a catalogue.
Despite his efforts to promote the paintings and try to make them more accessible to more people, the audience was still scarce and the market response was not as enthusiastic as expected.
【6】
The identity of the "Wushan Goddess" was exposed, and Li Zhuangping's father-daughter paintings aroused heated discussions
In 2009, in the face of doubts from the outside world and inner insistence, artist Li Zhuangping decided to bring his cohesive work "Oriental Goddess Mountain Ghost Series" to the Chongqing Huangjueping Art Festival in response to the hustle and bustle of public opinion.
He knew very well that this realistic album, inspired by Qu Yuan's "Nine Songs, Mountain Ghosts", showing the harmonious coexistence of the goddess of Wushan and nature, was very likely to make waves again.
Sure enough, as soon as the "Oriental Goddess Mountain Ghost Series" was exhibited, it attracted a large number of audiences.
Although the goddess of Wushan in the painting is not in the eye, her clear and innocent eyes are perfectly integrated with the surrounding animal world, creating a transcendent and natural artistic conception.
Li Zhuangping's skillful use of the brush avoids poses and details that may trigger bad associations in the viewer, so that the whole work exudes a solemn and elegant artistic atmosphere.
Connoisseurs praised the treatment, agreeing that it not only reflected respect and protection for the daughter, but also sublimated the artistic theme.
Li Zhuangping and his daughter Li Qin were overjoyed when they heard the praise, and they knew that these must be the best feedback for them to overcome many difficulties and stick to their artistic beliefs.
The calm didn't last long.
When the public learned that the fairy-like "Wushan Goddess" in the painting was actually the 17-year-old biological daughter of the painter Li Zhuangping, public opinion instantly boiled.
For a while, all kinds of sharp comments appeared on the online platform.
Some people angrily accuse Li Zhuangping of being a "beast father", assuming that he forced his daughter to be a nude model out of selfish desires, while others questioned: "What girl is in the flowering season who will voluntarily expose her body for others to see?" These negative voices are pouring in like a tide, pointing directly to the model relationship between father and daughter.
Many netizens also stood up to defend Li Zhuangping, asking rhetorically: "Why do you allow the daughters of other families to become nude models, but they disagree with the painter's use of their own daughters?
This sudden storm made the names of Li Zhuangping's father and daughter spread all over the country overnight, and they not only became famous in the art world, but also became the focus of public opinion.
Every day, all kinds of media flock to interview the father and daughter on the cusp of the storm, and explore the stories and mental journeys behind their creations.
Under the flickering of the magnesium lights and the focus of the lens, Li Zhuangping's father and daughter were pushed to the forefront of the public eye together with the "Oriental Goddess Mountain Ghost Series".
【7】
Behind the painter Li Zhuangping's refusal to sell 100 million yuan of paintings: the pricelessness of art and ethical challenges have sparked heated discussions and understanding
In the United States, a collector flew to China and offered the painter Li Zhuangping a check for up to $100 million to buy his series, but Li Zhuangping firmly rejected the offer.
He said that the purpose of creating art is not to exchange for huge wealth, the value of art cannot be measured by money, and art itself is priceless.
Despite the rumors of the collector's huge acquisition, the writer has reservations about the veracity of this rumor, after all, the amount of $100 million is too staggering, and there is no other strong evidence to corroborate it except for Li Zhuangping's own statement, which makes many people question the authenticity of this matter.
At the same time, the 300 yuan catalogue of the Oriental Goddess and Mountain Ghost Series has not yet been sold out, reflecting the complex situation of Li Zhuangping and his works in public opinion.
On the one hand, with the rise of fame, the criticism of Li Zhuangping has not stopped.
Some criticized him for using his daughter as a mannequin, in order to attract attention and achieve fame, while others pointed out that nude art was an expression of Western culture, which seemed out of place in the context of relatively restrained and subtle Chinese culture, and that Li Zhuangping was merely using art to cater to Western aesthetics.
Of course, there are also many voices of reason that give Li Zhuangping understanding and support.
From the artist's point of view, they point out that when the painter faces the model, whether male or female, what he actually sees is only a human body as a medium of expression, and there is no gender distinction in the secular concept.
There is a certain degree of rationality in this view, which leads people to re-examine the nature of artistic creation.
Wang Xiaojian, a professor at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, spoke highly of the matter, saying that Li Zhuangping's courage to choose his own daughter as a model not only requires great courage, but also a brave break with traditional ethics and morals.
The result of their collaboration, the oil paintings, is deeply touched by the deep emotions and unique artistic values behind them.
In addition, Ms. Li Yinhe, a well-known social commentator, also actively participated in the discussion of the incident and gave a strong rebuttal.
It is precisely because of the support of people of insight from all walks of life, including Professor Wang Xiaojian and Li Yinhe, that the storm of public opinion surrounding Li Zhuangping and his works has gradually subsided, and people have begun to discuss and accept these works more from an artistic perspective rather than a simple moral level.
【8】
Life changes and artistic journeys after the controversy
Fast forward and Li Zhuangping is now a 76-year-old artist, and the controversial incident has had a profound impact on their lives.
In the face of years of online violence and public opinion pressure, Li Zhuangping finally chose to fade out of the public eye and return to relatively calm artistic creation.
The debate surrounding his controversial series of works has not subsided with the passage of time, and opinions remain divided: some have a deep understanding of him and appreciate the spirit of his artistic exploration, while others have reservations and cannot accept his approach.
Despite this, Li Zhuangping has always adhered to himself, and his love and dedication to painting have not diminished in the slightest.
Daughter Li Qin also maintains an independent life trajectory, although the two are busy, they have always supported each other in their careers, and have participated in many literary and artistic activities in Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu and other places.
Although the "Oriental Goddess Mountain Ghost Series" has won Li Zhuangping a worldwide reputation, it is obviously not easy to create such a sensational artistic peak.
This experience revealed a universal truth: bold and unconventional behavior can be a double-edged sword, which can either instantly increase one's reputation and get one to the top of one's career, but it can also bring constraints that make it difficult for people to follow up in their creations.
So, fourteen years have passed since that turmoil, how is Li Zhuangping doing now?
Since the global turmoil, Li Zhuangping and his daughter have received many invitations from all over the world to participate in various public welfare activities and negotiate various art projects, including the establishment of their own art museum.
Some of these projects have been successful, while others have not progressed, such as the long-delayed completion of the museum.
Despite this, Li Zhuangping's life did not fall into a difficult situation, but lived quite comfortably.
He was originally weak in physique and had fainted several times during the creation process, but now he is in good spirits, his physical condition has improved significantly, and his health has greatly improved.
He carried a single-lens reflex camera with him and embarked on a journey around the world, whether it was the mountains or the blue sea and silver beaches, leaving him in pursuit of light and shadow, close to nature.
Soaking up the sun, immersing yourself in the beauty of nature, emptying your mind, and enjoying every moment of life have become an important part of Li Zhuangping's daily life.
Many netizens sighed at this, thinking that he was able to spend the rest of his life leisurely by virtue of becoming famous.
Li Zhuangping's free and free life is undoubtedly the envy of many people.