Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 159 Inspiration for New Works
After dinner, the task of washing dishes fell to Tao Yumo, while Lin Chaoyang, Li Tuo and Feng Jicai sat in the living room drinking tea and chatting.

The topic turned to the Stars Art Exhibition that took place before dinner. Feng Jicai went to see it yesterday but came back disappointed, so he couldn't help feeling a little resentful.

"I don't know what those people are so proud of. They claim to be avant-garde to everyone they meet, but they don't even know what 'avant-garde' means.

Without the test of time, how can there be "avant-garde"? Without surpassing predecessors and masters, how dare we talk about "avant-garde"?
So many kind-hearted people gave them admiring looks, and they seemed to think that this was what they deserved, as if they had become the chosen ones of heaven.

Their so-called "avant-garde" is just taking two and a half steps further than everyone else. They are proud of inexplicable things, cheer for inexplicable things, and think they are about to make a step forward.

Vulgar! So vulgar!"

Feng Jicai is a tall man who looks gentle and polite.

He was cautious about Tao Yumo just now. Now that he had drunk some wine, his face was flushed, his eyes were blurry, his voice was louder, and he revealed a cynical tone.

Compared with his performance when sober, he is like two different people.

Lin Chaoyang cast a questioning look at Li Tuo, and Li Tuo laughed heartily, "Jicai, this is called true nature!"

It would have been better if Li Tuo hadn't praised him. This praise seemed to give Feng Jicai a shot of chicken blood, and he started to talk nonsense again.

"I heard that last year a group of students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts gave a speech, scolding those famous writers, saying that official painters are completely finished! What kind of art are they doing! They only know how to make money from their writings!

At that time, a group of people applauded and cheered. A group of art students did not think about how to improve their skills and surpass their predecessors. They only shouted slogans such as "thoughts" and "meanings" that seemed profound but were actually superficial and stupid to make an art revolution. How ridiculous was it?

Did they come up with any remarkable techniques or advanced ideas?
They are just picking up some Western art. If this group of people really start a trend in Chinese art, it will be a tragedy for the Chinese people!"

At the end of the scolding, Feng Jicai said with a still unsatisfied hatred: "We should write something to criticize their evil tendencies, a bunch of people who deceive the world and steal the reputation."

Lin Chaoyang thought that his impression of the Starry Sky Art Exhibition was already quite bad, but he didn't expect that Feng Jicai hated the Starry Sky Art Exhibition even more than he did.

He curiously put his arm around Li Tuo's shoulders and asked, "Why does he look down on those people?"

“I don’t know! As for the Stars Art Exhibition, maybe the form is more important than the meaning. Some people use it as a tool to break through traditions and taboos, and as a way to vent and rebel.

The act of painting itself has become insignificant. I guess Da Feng just likes painting and can't bear to see those people destroying art like this."

Lin Chaoyang nodded. What Li Tuo said made some sense.

The main planners of the Stars Art Exhibition almost overlap with those of Today.

The commonality among these people is obvious. They were all born after the founding of the People's Republic of China, all had urban living backgrounds, all had experienced the buzzing, and all had been to the mountains and the countryside...

The deformed, twisted, and incomprehensible shapes painted by those young painters who claim to be avant-garde mostly reflect the broken hearts of this group of people.

Politically angry, emotionally sad, ideologically doubtful, denying the past, dissatisfied with the present, and confused about the future, art is just a tool for this group of people to vent their negative emotions.

From the rise of scar literature, to the popularity of Today, to the Stars Art Exhibition, they can all be seen as products of this sentiment.

Can they be called art? It seems so, but they can only resonate and make certain people feel at certain times.

Lacking lasting artistic vitality, such art is undoubtedly superficial and destined to be unable to reach the general public.

This group of people denied themselves internally, and failed to catch up with others externally. It's a bit sad to think about it.

The most classic example is a teacher who swore all the time. When he was in China, his works were appreciated and recognized by the industry, he won major awards, and was also sought after by many art lovers.

But he chose to deny himself, be self-righteous, and go abroad to study, erasing his original characteristics. He didn't learn anything new, and ended up being a hodgepodge. His works did not go viral as much as his speeches with swear words.

Feng Ji cursed for a long time before finally calming down, but he was still chattering non-stop.

Lin Chaoyang joked, "If Da Feng were here sixty or seventy years ago, he would have been a top candidate to burn down Zhaojialou."

Feng Jicai shook his head. "If I had that kind of action, I would have cursed loudly when I saw the exhibition. What I am saying now is just a complaint."

He asked, "Chaoyang, from your tone, I can tell you don't think highly of the Xingxing Art Exhibition?"

“I can’t say I look down on it. Generally speaking, art exhibitions are a good thing. After all, they can make many ordinary people interested in art.

It’s just that I don’t quite agree with some people’s behavior and ideas. Just like what you just said, they are clearly copying other people’s ideas, but they try to make it seem like they have invented something great.

The most important thing is that they only know the basics, so it is easy for them to mislead many ordinary people who don’t know much about this art.”

Feng Jicai clapped his hands and said, "Yes, this is exactly what I am worried about."

Lin Chaoyang teased again: "Didn't you say you wanted to write something to criticize them?"

After venting his anger, Feng Ji finally sobered up a lot. He said a little embarrassedly: "What I just said was wrong. You can't criticize me just because you have a different opinion."

Lin Chaoyang nodded and said, "This is the gentleman's style, but it is also necessary to clarify the position and guide public opinion."

Seeing him say that, Feng Jicai asked curiously: "Chaoyang, from what you said, do you want to write something?"

Li Tuo also showed interest and said, "Chaoyang is not only a good novelist, but his previous article "The Inevitable Rise and Fall of Scar Literature" caused a great response. It can be said that he predicted the development of scar literature in advance."

He asked Lin Chaoyang, "What are your ideas? Tell us about them?"

"Just talking about the Stars Art Exhibition, I suddenly had an idea." Li Tuo and Feng Jicai looked expectant, "Tell me in detail, tell me in detail."

Lin Chaoyang pondered for a long time, probably sorting out his thoughts in his mind, and then he said: "My story is about Van Gogh."

"van gogh?"

Li Tuo and Feng Jicai, one is studying film and the other is loving fine arts. The name Van Gogh is not unfamiliar to them, but they were still a little surprised to hear this name.

Because Chinese writers write stories about foreigners, which is rare in the Chinese literary world.

"We know that Van Gogh committed suicide, but do you know how he died?"

Lin Chaoyang's words attracted all the attention of Li Tuo and Feng Jicai.

The two of them stared at Lin Chaoyang, listened to his narration with their ears perked up, and their emotions also fluctuated with Lin Chaoyang's story.

When Lin Chaoyang reached the climax of the story, the two were deeply moved and their eyes filled with tears.

“How great would it be if Van Gogh could have seen the world’s admiration for him while he was still alive?”

"Chaoyang's idea is really great, it's just a fantastic idea."

Li Tuo asked: "Chaoyang, was the inspiration for your story the Yellow Millet Dream?"

Lin Chaoyang shook his head. "It's a little different from The Yellow Millet Dream. Have you read a novel by Mark Twain?"

"What novel?" Li Tuo asked.

"'A Connecticut Yankee in Arthur's Court.'"

When they heard the title of the book, Li Tuo and Feng Jicai were confused.

Mark Twain is one of the most important novelists of the 19th century. Both of them have read many of his works, and both of them have read a lot, but they have no impression of the book title mentioned by Lin Chaoyang.

"Which publishing house published this novel?" Feng Jicai asked.

"I don't know. I read the original English books collected in our library."

After hearing Lin Chaoyang's words, Li Tuo and Feng Jicai looked at each other and silently labeled Lin Chaoyang a "pretender" in their hearts.

Li Tuo didn't want to give Lin Chaoyang a chance to continue showing off, so he asked, "Let's not talk about Marco Twain, what's the next part of the story? What happened next?"

"Then comes the modern part..."

Lin Chaoyang spoke in a gentle tone, and told the story slowly and leisurely. Only after he finished the whole story did Li Tuo and Feng Ji feel a sense of loss, and they could not help but sigh softly.

After a while, Feng Ji finally came out of the aftertaste of the story, his eyes full of admiration, "Chaoyang, you must write this story! This story is not only creative, but also full of artistic appeal, which makes people feel moved."

Li Tuo nodded and agreed: "Chaoyang's idea is indeed brilliant! It is hard to imagine that such a wonderful story was born around a meal.

After listening to the whole story, I feel that the metaphors of the Stars Exhibition and the irony of some bad habits in the art world are not so important, because Chaoyang brings the image of Van Gogh, who was originally very far away from us, closer to us.

In his stories, art is no longer something lofty, but has a vitality that is close to people.”

The two were deeply moved by the story told by Lin Chaoyang and expressed their sincere praise.

"Chaoyang, I have a small suggestion." Li Tuo said.

"You said."

“I think that regarding the perspective of Van Gogh, can we add stream-of-consciousness psychological description and psychoanalysis?”

Lin Chaoyang nodded, "Of course. In the story, Van Gogh's mental state is actually unstable, which coincides with the description technique of stream of consciousness and the overall style of the story."

Li Tuo smiled and said, "Another masterpiece of stream-of-consciousness literature is about to be born in China!"

Lin Chaoyang waved his hand and said a few words modestly.

After chatting for two or three hours, it was getting late, so Li Tuo and Feng Ji got up to say goodbye.

Lin Chaoyang escorted the two out of the community. Feng Jicai held his hand and said sincerely, "It was worthwhile to visit you today, Chaoyang. I have tasted the exquisite craftsmanship of the owner of Xunweizhai and heard the unforgettable story about Van Gogh. I hope to read the novel soon."

"Brother Jicai, you are so polite. Welcome to come often in the future."

Before Feng Jicai could speak, Li Tuo laughed and said, "Come often, of course. 'Master of Xunweizhai', this name is good. It would be wrong if you don't entertain people who come in the future."

"You can entertain guests, so don't come here to eat and drink for free."

“You are discriminating…”

In the night breeze, the three of them chatted and laughed, and finally waved goodbye.

(End of this chapter)