Fusion Art: Talking about Chinese and Western Origins and Talking about Past and Present
Faced with Xue Jiuyue's question, this time, "Spitting Star" didn't offer an answer. "Miss Yue, it's pointless to ask me this question. Do I have the final say? Do you believe me? If you believe what others say, then you wouldn't believe the answers given by so many far more impressive people than me. How about we just gossip about our date? That would be more worthy of such a beautiful day, wouldn't it?"
"It's not a date, we just had a meal together." Xue Jiuyue was no longer sleepy and was becoming more and more awake, so she had no choice but to pour herself a glass of whiskey.
"Did he express or hint anything to you?"
"It's not what you think. It's my psychiatrist, and I treated him to dinner to show my gratitude. We're just friends, I guess. Closer than a typical doctor-patient relationship, that's all."
"Oh, so, does the doctor also approve of your friendship? Or does he want to take it a step further?"
"He is always so gentle. When you see him, you can understand what it means to be a gentleman as gentle as jade. So he never expresses anything explicitly. When he introduced us to others, he said he was a boyfriend. Maybe he made a slip of the tongue, or others misheard and thought it was a boyfriend and girlfriend. He even apologized to me specifically." Xue Jiuyue typed a lot of words, which was rare for her, and described the details, because she didn't know the answer either, or she also wanted to know the answer.
"Then I, your servant, must congratulate you, young lady! The doctor wishes to be your boyfriend. Every sip and bite is predestined! There aren't many mistakes in this world. Even if they are slips of the tongue, they are often the result of the subconscious mind, often expressing true thoughts that are imprisoned by the conscious mind. It's questionable why you would suppress your own feelings. The hexagram indicates that the man is inferior to the woman, and the man restrains himself, while the woman delights. Well, he probably feels unworthy of you, so he's being very restrained."
"Alright, I told you you were fat and you're still panting. Your finger calculations are totally inaccurate! He and I are just ordinary friends, ordinary friends who just had dinner together for the first time. We might not even be friends before, so there's no such thing as congratulations! Also, he's not humble and I'm not respectful either. He's very outstanding and worthy of any girl."
"You are wrong! You are the most noble Princess Yue, the beautiful Yue! Is there any girl in the world who is more noble than you? Anyone else, stand out and see if I don't embarrass her!" When he saw that he was criticized, "Spit Star" became a scoundrel again.
"Stop joking. The basis of all your inferences is the proposition that I am a beauty, which I have not firmly refuted. After all, no girl wants to say that she is ugly." Xue Jiuyue became serious, and her logical thinking ability was also outstanding.
She then added: "Whether I am beautiful or ugly is not important to my psychiatrist because he can't see it."
"Oh, no! That's impossible! It goes against common sense. For a good psychiatrist, eyes are the most important thing! He can't be blind! Are you sure he can't see?"
"I'm sure!"
Xue Jiuyue sent these three words without hesitation, and the various scenes in her memories came flooding back like evidence. Finally, even the scene when she and Liu Che first met emerged.
"Hello, would you like me to treat you? Dr. Li Jingzi is the best doctor here. She has successfully helped many patients and has a wealth of practical experience. She also understands your condition better and may be able to help you more easily. So would you like to consider it?"
Faced with Xue Jiuyue's request to change doctors, Liu Che did not immediately agree. Instead, he put himself in Xue Jiuyue's shoes and considered her. After saying this, he raised his right hand and brushed aside the wisp of hair that was scattered on his forehead.
Xue Jiuyue was also attracted by Liu Che's actions. She watched as that beautiful hand lifted her forehead, scooped up a handful of sunlight, caressed the ripples on the water, moved the golden and heavy wheat awns, lifted a beaded curtain, and raised all kinds of reverie or memories...
After Liu Che calmed down, she asked, "Why, you don't want to treat me?"
"No, I'm sorry, I didn't express myself clearly. It's an honor for me that you choose me to treat you. But I'm afraid that I will delay you. I wonder if you can tell me why you chose me? Do you know me? Do you understand my situation?" Liu Che raised his right hand again and found that his hair was very obedient, so he just brushed it across his smooth forehead.
Xue Jiuyue thought for a moment and replied, "There's no reason. I don't know you. It's just my intuition."
"But I'm sick and can't see anything right now. So I'm afraid to bother you."
"Oh, it's okay. When I saw you at Dr. Li's that day, I noticed that you might be... embarrassed."
"It's okay, it's okay. I really can't see. It happened because of an illness I had when I was in college. Are you sure you don't mind?"
"Well, then, I'll just assume that I'm ignorant."
"Spit Star"'s reply brought back Xue Jiuyue who was still wandering in his memory.
Using whiskey to arouse her taste buds, she distinguished between reality and the past, then typed out a response: "Stop talking about me. What about you? You're always online, with nothing to do, no seriousness, and you're definitely single. What I said is neither true nor false."
“Woof woof…”
The conversation continued, but various questions entangled in a thick fog. Even if "Spit Star" turned on the snarky mode, it couldn't dispel much. It could only be left to the darkness of the night, and buried in the corner of the crystal wine glass...
With the foundation of a gathering and Qiu Nian's help, when Qian Jianjun came to "Inch by Inch of Time", he could already feel a sense of intimacy from the comfort.
Even to the serious Lin Yiyi, Qiu Nian could smile and whisper, "Money is always good."
Qian Jianjun was flattered and responded quickly, "Hello, Xiaolin."
When Zhou Ying came over to deliver the coffee, she also whispered a greeting, "Hello, Mr. Qian, here's the coffee you ordered."
"Thank you, Xiao Zhou."
A simple greeting can actually brighten his mood. Qian Jianjun now finds not only this cafe "interesting," but also the people in it. He begins to understand why the Qius come so often, and he even wants to join in like Qiu Nian.
"What I did last time was absolutely correct!" Qian Jianjun gave himself a thumbs up and looked forward to today's action.
She wore the cheongsam with a black background and subtle floral patterns she'd acquired from yesterday's shopping trip. She shortened the strap of her father's bag and carried it as a clutch. Her hair was pulled up in a bun, revealing a swan's neck. Xue Jiuyue stepped out of a faded black-and-white photograph, her steps etched with the delicate brush of a scholar and the scent of ink on her writing paper. With an elegance etched in history, she stunned the chaotic heartbeat of time.
Qian Jianjun kept staring at her until the "smiling face" appeared on Xue Jiuyue's desk.
"Huh..." Qian Jianjun let out a long sigh.
"Hello, Mr. Xue."
"Please take a seat, Mr. Qian."
"Mr. Xue, I'm not flattering you. Your team is so enviable. They love each other and are as close as a family, yet everyone has their own responsibilities and unique characteristics. They are full of vitality and positive energy, which is particularly attractive. I really want to join them. I wonder if I am lucky enough to do so?"
"You're too polite. It's such a small shop with only a few people. In your eyes, it's nothing. There's no such thing as fitting in or not. Many regular customers have become friends. For example, Xiao Nian, and his parents, Mr. Qiu. And that lady in front of you on the right, the one with the most beautiful and elegant temperament, a female writer who pen name is Ge Xiaoduo. And there are so many more... We are all customers, and we are all friends."
Qian Jianjun looked in the direction Xue Jiuyue said, and sure enough, he saw a gentle woman writing and drawing with her head down.
"Ge Xiaoduo? The Ge Xiaoduo who wrote both poetry and novels? I have read her works, especially the poem Tanpo Huanxisha. I remember the first two lines of the second stanza are 'The dancing flowers are broken, spring is a dream, tears are dried, mist and rain, and drunkenness becomes autumn'. It came out of nowhere, a stroke of genius, and I was amazed at the time. I didn't expect to see her here today. When I have the chance, I will go and ask her for advice." Qian Jianjun was very surprised to meet his favorite author here.
Xue Jiuyue smiled slightly, "Then I'm afraid we need to wait for the right opportunity. She's afraid of being disturbed, so she always has an awkward face and only takes the initiative to chat with others during breaks. And she only comes during the day on weekdays, and the rest of the time she goes back to her family."
"Birds of a feather flock together. The people who come here are extraordinary. There are elites and bigwigs from all walks of life, and the artistic atmosphere is rich. I discovered during our conversation the other day that you and Xiaolin are all interested in art. A friend of mine is hosting a 'Walking Sculptures' ballet art exhibition these days, and I'd like to invite you, Xiaoke, Xiaozhou, and the others to take a moment to see it."
Xue Jiuyue was indeed very interested in ballet. "Okay, tell me the time and place, and I'll go there with Yiyi and the others."
Qian Jianjun then added, "Please confirm the time, just like that day. I'll come pick you up in advance and we can all go in one car. It's convenient. I'll find a quiet place for dinner in the evening."
Xue Jiuyue wanted to refuse, but Qian Jianjun's words "it's still the same as that day" reminded her of the agreement. "Okay then! Thank you in advance!"
"You're welcome. It's an honor for my friend and me that you would do me the honor."
The time is set for this Saturday.
It had been raining since the morning. In the afternoon, the clearing air and the resulting oxygen refreshed both our breath and our spirits. Qian Jianjun and Lao Zhou parked their car a quarter of an hour ahead of schedule and waited on the roadside. Five minutes early, Qian Jianjun finally stepped into "Inch by Inch of Time."
Everything is ready and everyone sets off on time.
The exhibition is housed in an old building deep in an alley. The sight of grey bricks and tiles, the moss in the corners, the broken walls, and the decaying wood all whisper of the passage of time. Stepping inside, however, reveals a whole new world. The abundant light and spacious, airy visual experience are perfectly integrated into the traditional layout that traps wind and gathers energy. This house itself is a work of art.
The organizer of the "Walking Sculpture" is a friend of Qian Jianjun. He specifically refused to allow all other visitors to the exhibition during this time period, leaving it exclusively for Qian Jianjun and his group. He accompanied the group throughout the tour, explaining his own perspectives as appropriate.
The entire exhibition encompasses a variety of art forms such as sculpture, painting, and photography, organically combining ballet, photography, sculpture, and painting with Xialin’s landmark buildings and cultural landscapes.
"Let the classical elegance and otherworldliness of European ballet and Chinese culture seamlessly blend with everyday life, mutually illuminating each other. Bring joy to more people, convey a sense of beauty, enhance their artistic cultivation and aesthetic ability, and thus achieve aesthetic enjoyment." The unassuming organizer stated the purpose of the exhibition, earning the admiration of those present. They truly felt the host's thoughtful intentions in the dazzling array of exhibits.
Although there were many exhibits, Qian Jianjun and Xue Jiuyue both stopped in front of a Chinese painting.
This is an ink painting called "Swan Lake".
The painting depicts a dancer from "Swan Lake." There's no detailed brushwork, only a simple outline. Yet, with just a few strokes, the dancer's noble demeanor and graceful form come alive on the page.
"It's amazing! This is a classic fusion of Chinese and Western art!" Qian Jianjun praised it. "With just a few strokes, the charm of ballet is vividly expressed. I clearly can't see it, but I see it so clearly. This is the vividness of Chinese painting."
"Your description is quite apt," Xue Jiuyue added, "This fully demonstrates the commonality of beauty across different art forms. Just one pointe tells you it's ballet; just the curve created by that pointe allows you to truly feel the lightness, grace, and nobility of ballet."
"You are right, but when you mentioned standing on tiptoe and being light, I couldn't help but think of Zhao Feiyan's palm dance and the long-criticized foot binding. They are both pursuing a light body shape, so why is there such a big difference?" Qian Jianjun agreed and raised a new question.
"I think it's a question of cultural genes. Westerners are more focused on truth, exploring nature, just like standing on tiptoe to achieve height, length, and beauty. Traditional Chinese culture, especially traditional philosophy, is primarily based on ethics, so it's more about seeking goodness. Goodness requires self-discipline and inward search, hence foot binding." Xue Jiuyue spoke at length, adding wistfully, "Of course, you might find it far-fetched, but standing on tiptoe and foot binding are only one aspect. This difference is reflected in many other aspects, such as the circle of fifths in music. Originally an open spiral, the West chose to search both forward and reverse directions to achieve a perfect circle. China, on the other hand, uses ethics to forcibly lower the sharp fa note at the opening, achieving perfection."
Xue Jiuyue's words, which elevated a phenomenon to the root of culture and then extended to other aspects, deeply impressed Qian Jianjun. He praised her sincerely, "No, no, I don't think it's far-fetched. I think what you said is very profound and insightful. The gap you mentioned is indeed reflected in all aspects, so culture needs to communicate and integrate, and that's why people like my friend are working hard for this."
He quickly added his own perspective, "But I think if we explore this purely from the perspective of beauty itself, our foot binding and other practices are more likely to derive from the ancient literati's aesthetic of imperfection. The idea of imperfection as beauty was a common one among many ancient scholars. I believe this ideological root lies in the deeper ancient Chinese ideal of 'learning the arts of literature and martial arts, and selling them to the imperial court.' In my opinion, our Hundred Schools of Thought were largely a competition for favor—all vying for the favor of those in power. Later generations of scholars were more or less influenced by this. But only a few were able to successfully sell their works, and even those who did felt they didn't get a good price, not to mention the vast majority that remained unsold. Hence, the ancient literati's overwhelming struggle to cross a single-plank bridge, filled with frustration and resentment, gave rise to this kind of imperfect beauty. Often, it's less an aesthetic than a form of self-pity or self-admiration for one's own circumstances."
Xue Jiuyue was not only refreshed by this argument, but also highly recognized it. "So in this era of rapid development and renewal, should our beauty abandon that kind of morbidity and incompleteness and become positive, healthy and sunny?"
"Yes, you spoke my mind!"
The feeling of meeting too late for a soulmate sprouted in both of them to some extent...
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