peers
The faint blue flame from the heat gun licked the edge of the aluminum plate, making a subtle buzzing sound. Wearing heat-resistant gloves, I stared intently at the ticking numbers on the thermometer, carefully controlling the heat within the narrow phase transition range provided by Wang Rui. Subtle halos began to appear on the surface of the aluminum plate, like rippling water. It seemed as if the material was undergoing some slow, irreversible transformation from within.
This is a completely different working mode. No longer an emotionally driven expression, nor a physical struggle with materials, but more like a rigorous alchemist, carefully manipulating variables in the laboratory, observing the secret reactions of matter. Failure is the norm. A slightly higher temperature will cause the board to soften excessively and deform; a slightly lower one will result in insufficient reaction, resulting in a faint mark. A small pile of discarded experimental products is piled in the corner.
But the satisfaction brought by each small success—when the expected subtle wrinkles or color gradients finally appear on the aluminum sheet, as if solidified in memory—is pure and immense. It is an intellectual conquest, a subtle touch upon the laws of nature.
Wang Rui showed great interest in every experimental result I reported, even staying up late to consult more specialized literature and provide me with more detailed parameter adjustments. Our email exchanges became increasingly frequent, filled with charts, formulas, and terminology. If seen by an outsider, they would probably be mistaken for an academic exchange between two researchers.
This cross-disciplinary collaboration quietly nourishes the roots of my creative process. I feel like a tree, originally growing in one soil (art), but now, the nutrients of science are seeping in from another soil through invisible roots.
During this time, Assistant Lin reported that Li Wei's cultural consulting company seemed to have taken on a few small but significant projects, primarily providing acquisition consulting services to emerging collectors. So far, there had been no signs of any overlap with my circle. I told him to simply observe from a distance and not waste too much energy.
The girl who created the work using materials from the old house sent me photos of her project's progress. The broken bricks and tiles, restored using the Kintsugi technique, combined with modern metal components create a unique aesthetic that blends age and rebirth. She wrote in an email, "Teacher Zhang, thank you. The brokenness itself has become another kind of wholeness."
I saved the photos. This indirect witnessing of others overcoming difficulties is like a glimmer of light in the dark night, warm and powerful.
One Friday afternoon, I was looking at an aluminum plate with a texture I'd successfully induced, wondering how to fix it physically, when the doorbell rang. Who could it be? Assistant Lin usually called first.
Through the peephole, I saw an unexpected figure—Wang Rui. He was wearing a slightly oversized down jacket and carrying a backpack. He stood outside the door, adjusting his glasses with a somewhat reserved look.
I opened the door in surprise: "Wang Rui? Why are you here? Why didn't you call first?"
"I happened to be attending an academic seminar nearby, which ended this afternoon. I remembered your studio was probably in this area, so I... took the liberty of stopping by to take a look." He smiled sheepishly and handed over a paper bag. "By the way, I brought some...material samples made in our lab. I thought you might be able to use them."
Inside the paper bag were several sealed vials containing metal powders of different colors and some tiny crystals of regular shapes, with complex chemical formulas written on the labels.
I quickly invited him in. Wang Rui entered the studio, his gaze immediately drawn to Chen Hui's sculpture in the center and the works from the "Code: Debris" series in the corners. His eyes flickered with professional curiosity. He approached cautiously, scrutinizing the details of the works, especially the treatment of the joints.
"The heat-affected zone of this weld is very precisely controlled..." he muttered to himself, then turned to me, "Can I... touch it?"
"Of course." I nodded.
He donned white gloves (which he actually brought with him) and gently touched the sculpture's cool curves and the rough cuts of the steel, like a geologist exploring rock formations. "The composite material's interface bonding is incredibly strong... Is this rusting process natural or artificial? It's very layered..."
We naturally began a live discussion, ranging from materials science to artistic expression, from precise laboratory control to unexpected surprises in creation. Wang Rui spoke much more than he had in the email. While still maintaining the rigor of a researcher, his genuine excitement was palpable.
I showed him my aluminum plate heating experiment and the failed samples. He squatted down and looked at them very carefully, even taking out his phone to take a few macro photos.
"This temperature gradient could be made steeper, perhaps producing a more dramatic phase transition boundary..." He pointed to a failed attempt and analyzed, "Our lab has a more sophisticated temperature control device. If you need it, you can bring a small sample over next time to try it out."
This kind of face-to-face, real-time communication is far more efficient than email. We even used the studio computer to call up 3D modeling software on the spot and simulated several different structural options.
Time flew by as they focused on the discussion. Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened.
Wang Rui looked at his watch and stood up apologetically: "Sorry to bother you for so long. I should go home."
"Yes, I've gained a lot today," I said sincerely, and walked him to the door.
"Next time...if you have new experimental ideas, or need any strange materials, feel free to tell me." Wang Rui said seriously.
"Okay. Sure."
I watched him walk into the elevator, closed the door, and returned to the studio. The air still lingered with that focused, exploratory vibe.
I looked at the successful aluminum plate prototype on the workbench. Next to it was the material sample brought by Wang Rui. The structural simulation diagram we had just discussed was still on the computer screen.
An unprecedented, clear sense of direction arose in my heart.
I am no longer the silent behemoth facing the material alone, nor am I relying solely on the emotional volcano within me.
I have found a companion. Although we come from different fields, we share a curiosity about the material world and a desire to create new things.
I picked up a gleaming metal powder crystal that Wang Rui brought and twisted it between my fingers.
Then, I open a new 3D modeling file.
Start building a brand new structure.
This time,
It will not just come from feelings,
It will be born out of understanding.
From two different languages,
A clumsy and sincere——
translate.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
