In fact, art is not far away from us. In the current human settlement concept that advocates life aesthetics, every good thing that is readily available is the pursuit and expression of exquisite life. Russian materialist philosopher Chernyshevsky wrote in the article "The Aesthetic Relationship between Art and Reality": "Anything that shows life or reminds us of life is beautiful. The purpose and essence of art It's about reproducing life." So do you still think that art is the cloud in the sky, the stars at night, the other shore that can never be reached?

 ▲Wu Shuang, a famous contemporary young artist in China

Many people are afraid of art, especially the generation born after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. They are in the initial stage of planned economy and education reform. The country’s industries are waiting to be developed and there is no time to take into account the many artistic developments, so that most people still have no idea about art creation. No knowledge. In the Western world at this time, abstract painting is popular.

It wasn't until the 1970s that China really began to accept international culture, both in terms of art form and in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation. In particular, the pursuit of human settlement design concepts and life aesthetics has achieved unprecedented prosperity. In this issue, we are fortunate to interview Ms. Wu Shuang, a famous contemporary young artist in China. As a painter who loves life, understands life, and draws inspiration from life, how does she use art to decorate life more beautifully?

RWK Interviews Wu Shuang，2019

 1 

RWK：Why did you choose to become a painter?

 Wu Shuang: I love painting from the bottom of my heart. The satisfaction I get from painting makes me infatuate with it. I don't have to devote myself to it deliberately, but I am completely relaxed.

▲Wild chacha Acrylic on Canvas 60x50cm 2014

▲Vitality in the air Oil on Canvas 70x50cm 2018 

 2 

RWK：It's not easy for artists to create. How do you find inspiration? How long does it take to complete a work?

Wu Shuang: creative inspiration to me, often are unexpected gains. They can come from travel, movies, literature, theater, or any moment in a conversation. I can feel it in my works. I don't want to be confined to the expression of a certain material or a certain theme. I hope I can observe the world from a variety of perspectives and express myself freely in a variety of ways. What's more interesting is that the works have become a channel for me to communicate with the world. Every time I communicate with different people through the works, I can get unexpected feedback.

▲White Christmas Tree  Oil on Canvas 100x100cm 2019

▲ White Christmas Tree Detail

To be honest, I prefer to discuss my work with non-professionals who do not understand art. Professionals usually discuss techniques, techniques, composition, symbols, influences between schools, branches in the history of art and so on from a professional perspective, which can be acquired through learning. I prefer to listen to the opinions of "strangers", they prefer to talk about "feeling", "feeling" is the best way to return to the true nature of art, right? The feeling of "strangeness" often brings me new inspirations.

For me, the completion cycle of a piece of work is not very stable. Some works can be completed in a few days at a time, while some works take two or three years to be modified repeatedly. Because they are not satisfied, they are set as unfinished. The longest painting spans five years.

▲ Image and Fantasy No.1 Acrylic on Canvas Print on Canvas 150x100cm_3  2018

 

▲RWK Space displays the paintings of  Wu Shuang

 3 

RWK：You have studied abroad in Germany and held many solo exhibitions. Do you think there is a big difference between the east and the West in the field of oil painting?

Wu Shuang: To a large extent, oil painting is regarded as "traditional" in western culture and "contemporary" in Eastern culture. This is caused by cultural differences for a long time, which inevitably leads to different directions of attention. In my opinion, "oil painting" is just a kind of material, just like "ink painting" is also a kind of material, which does not represent the style and concept.

▲Convergence Oil on Canvas 60x50cm 2019

 

 4 

RWK: How do you understand the aesthetics of life today? What situations do you find beautiful in your life? Or how do you find beauty?

Wu Shuang: Before I think art is life, now I think life is art. In the first few years, I thought it was cool to integrate art work into my life, and I didn't want anyone to think you knew art all the time. Later, I gradually realized that it should be the other way around, just like we should reverse the image when making prints. It is a more wonderful thing to integrate ordinary bits of life into artistic creation without deliberate intention.

▲Dream of autumn Acrylic on Canvas 150Φcm 2016

▲RWK Space displays the paintings of  Wu Shuang

▲ Warm love Oil on canvas 70x50cm 2018  

▼This work is used as the main image vision of "China International Fashion Week."

▲RWK Space displays the paintings of  Wu Shuang

I think the beauty in life is fluid, and it is also related to time. People will be moved by every different sunrise or sunset and praise it, because there is no the same dawn and sunset. We had no idea when the time was slipping away, the afternoon sun was changing in the room, the clock on the wall was moving, the cat yawned, the wind was blowing the flowers once. Because I am aware that all this is changing, I am more willing to take the time to experience, and this is when I find beauty.

▲Awaken Oil on canvas 200x200cm 2019

 5 

RWK:Artists' time seems to be very loose. Can you talk about how you enjoy life after you create?

Wu Shuang: the concept of "artists' time is very loose" is the biggest misunderstanding that we encounter from the outside world as professional artists, because when painting becomes a "career", it is not fundamentally different from other jobs, and we get other returns through our own labor and efforts. It's a different exhibition every year, so it's very busy to keep creating new works, but I love painting so much that I see it all as fun and fun. In addition to creation, the thing I love most is travel, going to different countries and cities, experiencing different local customs, landscapes, architecture, culture and food, and experiencing all beautiful things. For me, it is aesthetic travel, which is the second enjoyment besides painting.

▲Wu Shuang's Studio

 6 

RWK:Now many people begin to accept western art. They used to collect some traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy works, but now they begin to turn their perspective to oil paintings, prints and other forms. How do you think oil painting and print can show the best effect in the bedroom space?

Wu Shuang: Just like the cultural differences between China and the West, our understanding of oil painting still stays on the content of paintings. The public's impression on the style of prints is mostly limited to woodcut prints introduced by Mr. Lu Xun. In fact, no matter oil painting, print or ink painting, they are all visual art forms created by different artistic means. But as for the works displayed in the bedroom space, the paintings represent the "beauty of solidification time". In the world we live in, time never stays. People sigh with regret over the helplessness of time and hope to retain some traces of time. At this time, art works reflect its significance, which is relatively constant.

▲Wildlife Oil on Canvas 90x90cm 2013

▲RWK Space displays the paintings of  Wu Shuang

Art is more like a space of the observer, we think that we are looking at the painting on the wall, in fact, the painting on the wall is quietly looking at us, decades or even hundreds of years, people come and go, flowers bloom and fall, this is how romantic ah. So, I think the best effect of artwork in bedroom space, it is to collect the work that likes most to decorate in the most appropriate place, let it come along with our change and growth.

▲Dream of summer Oil on Canvas 150Φcm 2015

 7 

RWK：Many people have their own understanding of abstract works, which may be very different from what you originally created. What do you think of this situation?

Wu Shuang: A piece of work, no matter abstract or not, let a person have a feeling and understanding is already a great thing. It is not a bad thing to have "alternative interpretations" in understanding literature and art. Alternative interpretations are also a kind of beauty. There are many works and artists repeatedly interpreted in art history, and it is often the viewer and the artist who jointly write the part of art history.

▲Colony Portrait• Owl Screem printing  65x40cm

▲RWK Space displays the paintings of  Wu Shuang

 8 

RWK：What do you think is the future direction of oil painting collection? Are there any solo exhibitions planned for this year? Will other art forms be tried in the future?

Wu  Shuang: Due to the convenience brought by globalization, it is relatively easy to buy any works you want as long as the capital allows. Therefore, the future collection direction is more liberal, and the oil painting collection mainly depends on the collectors' preferences. As the year draws to a close, the latest solo exhibition is scheduled for next year. In the future, I will probably try other art forms. The charm of art lies in creating any possibility, adding more beauty to the world, or providing more perspectives and angles of observation.

▲Sejie - Wu Shuang Exhibition, Yuet Art Museum, Beijing, October 2015

 

 Interview Postscript: 

 Wu Shuang Is a very accessible artist. In her studio, she keeps two cats that are not afraid of people. She feels that they are as hospitable and curious as their owners. There is no pressure in the conversation with Wu Shuang. A wide range of interests can quickly lead to a topic and even reach a consensus of interests in life.

▲Leopard  Oil on Canvas 150Φcm 2017－2018

 

▲RWK Space displays the paintings of  Wu Shuang

Wu Shuang will not take the initiative to talk about her own work, she will first ask you what you have in mind, and then say what she thought when the creation. As we talked about in the interview, she thought that "it is a great thing for people to feel and understand a piece of work, whether abstract or not. Understanding literature and art can be interpreted differently by different people, and I get unexpected feedback and new inspiration."

 END.