Lin Tao
Everyone
plays an individual role in the social structure, and at the same time, each
individual belongs to a large or a small group. In addition to objective
factors such as region, race, language and gender, a large part of the reasons
for the composition and belonging of groups with different distribution and
types are due to the personality of individuals. Individual character will naturally
form corresponding behavior, and gradually lead to the inevitable behavior when
it seems accidental. In this way, it seems that it is precisely because of Sun
Xiaolan's personality that she has come to this stage.
I
have known Xiaolan for a few years, and most of our contact happened in 2016.
At that time, she was studying in the advanced oil painting research class
taught by Dean Xiao Feng, and I just happened to be in the artistic space of
Dr. Bai Yi in Hangzhou Meiyuan in Binjiang, painting the creation tasks of Dean
Xiao, and that was the beginning of our frequent contacts. Xiaolan is cheerful,
enthusiastic, positive, being active and dedicated in what she has been doing.
During that time, they were preparing for the graduation art show, and I was
impressed by her organizing ability and teamwork spirit. Later, I gradually saw
a large number of her sketching works and creative works. Her bright colors
with impressionistic characteristics as well as the persistent and enthusiastic
painting skills enabled me to have a deeper understanding of her and her
paintings.
Xiaolan
didn’t major in painting in the university, and she majored in foreign language
as an undergraduate. Her connection with art began with her family and her
natural interests. According to her own narration, she studied Chinese painting
from Teacher Wang Dehui and then officially embarked on the road to art. When
she saw the painting album of French impressionism female painter Morisot one
day, she realized that this was the artistic expression she was desperately
looking for, and only oil painting could express her rich imagination and
showcase the world she would like to see. Later, Teacher Wang recommended her
to Dean Xiao Feng and hence she joined his advanced oil painting research class.
I have to say, Xiaolan stands on a high artistic starting point. In addition to
Dean Xiao, she was also taught by Bai Renhai, Qin Dahu, Zhang Renyuan, He
Hongzhou, Cui Xiaodong, Wang Yutian, Zhu Weidong and other prestigious teachers
from China Academy of Art, which sharpened her painting skills in the
theoretical perspective, established the basic standard for her aesthetic
judgment, and broadened her horizon. In terms of character, aside from the
above mentioned, Xiaolan, as a southern girl born in Jiaxing, has the unique
characteristics of the southern female, namely sensitivity, delicacy, softness
and resilience. All these characteristics have an unconscious influence on her
artistic creation and the presentation of her works. Last year, Xiaolan set up
her own art studio. Amid the independent creation of artworks, she shares her
insight, experience, and love for art acquired from her artistic practice with
more people. Through this platform, aesthetic knowledge can be spread so that
more people can freely receive painting training and truly experience the
aesthetic pleasure brought by art learning and creation in practice. Now,
Xiaolan is not only an independent art practitioner with her own artistic
language, but also an art disseminator and an instructor of aesthetic
experience.
As
the saying goes, the character determines destiny. For Xiaolan, her road to art
is the harvest of her brilliant life like the blooming flower in summer. On
this road, I am convinced that she will keep holding on because she really has
passion for art.
Lin Tao
Written on July 9,
2019 at Lu Ye Cao Tang in Hangzhou