Shen Ling

Wu Yi is my school mate in campus.  i was in the Department of oil Painting, and he was in the Department of Chinese Painting. For in different departments we seldom met each other. But we attended the same general courses. i got an impression of him, as his name was funny and easily memorized. he looked shy and spoke seldom. We just nodded to each other when we encountered.

i have forgotten when  i felt in love with his paintings. The funny thing is that all the works  i loved have been published in papers, magazines or books. My impression of him comes mainly from the interviews.  i barely have a chance to appreciate his original works or solo shows. My understanding of Wu is just a tip of the iceberg. But because of such a rarity and seldomness my love of his works grows.

not long ago  i got a book from a friend-- a small album of the paintings of Wu.  i watched it page by page and just could not put it down. Both Yu Ping and i loved it. Yu Ping sometimes says sincerely: Wu Yi, this guy could paint god damn good. Then he puts his thumb up, as if not doing so i would not believe his earnest. We both love his paintings and we talk about him, sometimes send sMs to praise him too. Either feeling moved or embarrassed, he quickly sends deluxe edition of albums to us. We watched them in a sunny sunday afternoon and changed each others'. Yu Ping sometimes elbows me and says: he has gained a well-leveraged method in painting. i agree. after i have watched the albums that afternoon,  i copied one of his paintings myself. 

as i watch his paintings, i feel like watching a child playing his toys with full obsession, which is so touching.  i believe what has moved me is something that simple and natural. There are less and less things striking a chord in this noisy art circles. But Wu has achieved in doing so.

he doesn’t speak too much, and he looks simple when he laughs, just like the figures in his paintings: clumsy but fresh. he grows a beard, which has now and then reflected his vitality. Though with simple clothes, he looks great through such simplicity: just like watching his paintings. Fully obsessed, rident, joyful, fresh. his paintings make one relaxed. his paintings educate people and mind. You have watched and been obsessed. unconsciously you become the figure inside his paintings, walking in the beautiful nature with a clumsy, silly gesture, and laugh sweetly, simply and purely. 

Wu Yi is a new-grow-old naughty child, and he is funny.

after we become friends, i figure out that he does not speak too much, but he is really something!