When Liang Wanwan learned that she was going to attend Chen Mian's art exhibition, she was initially very excited, but later, for some reason, she became unusually depressed. After struggling with the decision, she still decided to go to the exhibition with Liang Shi.
This is Liang Wanwan's last year at school. She is about to graduate, and the dual pressures of research and employment leave her with little free time.
They didn't even know that Liang Shi had been in a coma for so long.
She spends most of her time in the classroom, art studio, and dormitory. She hasn't had a long holiday recently, and she hasn't even gone back to the Liang family home.
Liang Shi waited at the school gate for less than two minutes before Liang Wanwan, wearing a white down jacket, appeared at the school gate.
She carried a light gray backpack, wore a white down jacket, a gray beanie, and white knee-high boots, a very youthful and beautiful outfit.
Liang Shi pressed the horn.
Liang Wanwan jogged over, opened the car door, got in, and gently touched her flushed cheeks with her hands, asking softly, "Sister, is it just the two of us?"
"Hmm," Liang Shi said, "Chen Mian gave me two tickets."
“Okay.” Liang Wanwan started fastening her seatbelt.
Along the way, Liang Wanwan, a semi-"insider," also shared some knowledge about art exhibitions with Liang Shi.
Especially this art exhibition.
As a renowned and talented painter in the industry, Chen Mian's paintings are not usually exhibited at art exhibitions for public viewing.
They mostly appear online or in major competitions.
The thirteen "eccentric" painters featured in this exhibition are all recognized in the industry for their bizarre painting styles, which can be described as absurdist.
However, they are not quite the same as the absurdists often mentioned in literature.
Absurdity in literature is often satirical, either criticizing current affairs or exploring human nature.
But the strangeness of these people lies only in their art style, which is either too dark or too bright.
However, there are no problems with the composition and color; in fact, they are quite outstanding.
Therefore, he is hailed as a "prodigy".
Chen Mian and Qin Lishuang are the most frequently nominated.
Chen Mian is famous for his paintings of bizarre landscapes.
Qin Lishuang is famous for her bizarre portraits.
Qin Lishuang is particularly good at capturing people's most fearful or darkest moments.
Chen Mian's paintings have a very profound artistic conception.
Originally, there was no point in comparing the two, but one year at an international competition, four people were nominated, and Chen Mian, as the youngest, won the award.
That year, everyone had high hopes for Qin Lishuang.
Moreover, two months later, another international competition was held.
The work that Qin Lishuang submitted to the competition was the one she said she was most satisfied with in an interview. She was very confident at the time, saying that she had a 90% chance of winning the award. However, Chen Mian stepped in and nominated both Qin Lishuang and Chen Mian.
As a result, Chen Mian won the award.
Chen Mian, as a newcomer, has emerged as a rising star in the art world.
No one can imitate her style.
The artwork she submitted to the competition was reportedly a casual sketch she made after drinking too much.
After that, Chen Mian's name frequently appeared in the public eye, and she began to be as famous as Qin Lishuang, and even later showed signs of surpassing Qin Lishuang.
Qin Lishuang had been at the top for so many years, so naturally she couldn't stand others being so much better than her.
As a result, Chen Mian became a thorn in his side.
She participates in almost every competition that Chen Mian participates in.
After that, nothing so dramatic happened again; it was usually Chen Mian who won one game, and Qin Lishuang who won another.
Over time, Chen Mian and Qin Lishuang's names became inextricably linked; praising one inevitably meant putting down the other.
Liang Wanwan explained things to Liang Shi the whole way, and finally concluded: "I don't like Qin Lishuang's style either, it's too dark."
“But she has a lot of fans online,” Liang Wanwan said. “She’s quite pretty, with a mature and sophisticated style.”
Liang Shih happened to park his car in front of the art museum.
The art exhibition starts at ten o'clock, and many people have already arrived.
Men and women gathered in the open space of the art museum, chatting casually.
Liang Shi and Liang Wanwan waited quietly until the ticket check began.
After checking in and entering the venue, it was unusually quiet.
The organizers rented two floors to hold the art exhibition, and all kinds of paintings were hung on the walls.
Because it was a well-known art exhibition in the industry, it attracted a lot of people, and Liang Wanwan even ran into their professional class teacher.
However, Chen Mian and Qin Lishuang were not seen.
Liang Wanwan recognized most of these painters' faces, saying that none of them came.
But she heard from her teacher that today's art exhibition would also include an experience-sharing exchange, though it wasn't decided who would be there, and at least three to five of the painters would be attending.
Liang Shi even asked Chen Mian about it.
Chen Mian said she would come, but she would be a little late.
The paintings on the wall were not within Liang Shi's appreciation range; she was only interested in the paintings by Chen Mian and Qin Lishuang.
Below each painting is a description related to the painting.
Other painters' descriptions are quite extensive, covering the artist's creative intentions and the painting's meaning.
But when it came to Chen Mian, there were only two words: Chen Mian.
The rest is blank.
Qin Lishuang's entry was rather simple, containing only her name and the date of creation.
Chen Mian's paintings are abstract, but the color combinations are beautiful.
Qin Lishuang's style is melancholic, and she mainly focuses on portraits.
Liang Wanwan's explanation to Liang Shi also included how to determine whether these paintings are for sale.
Paintings that say "Not for Sale" under the description section are not for sale to the public. They are generally divided into two categories: sold and kept by the owner. Paintings without these three words are usually for sale, either auctioned after the exhibition or purchased by someone who happens to see them.
Most of the items listed are for sale, and they have all won awards.
There are three paintings by Qin Lishuang in this museum. Liang Shi didn't feel anything when he saw the first two, but he was surprised when he saw the third one.
The painting was not for sale, but the description stated: "My most satisfying work, 'Disgust'."
The person in the painting has light brown eyes filled with disgust, and his mouth is wrapped in bandages.
Brown curly hair spread across her skin, and her arms and legs were wrapped up.
The subtle, veiled appearance of key areas is highly artistic.
The composition is beautiful and has a strong visual impact.
If the person in this painting isn't her.
Even she herself had to put in a lot of effort to recognize that it was her, or rather, the original owner of this body.
What was Qin Lishuang's original intention in taking out this painting?
Is it for everyone to admire?
Liang Shi stood there for a while, feeling rather uneasy. Soon after, Liang Wanwan came over and exclaimed in admiration at the photo.
Liang Wanwan exclaimed, "I have to admit, Qin Lishuang's portraits are truly exceptional. The colors in this painting are even more stunning than her other works, the lines of the human figure are just right, and the model's emotions are conveyed through the painting; it's incredibly beautiful. However..."
Liang Wanwan paused, then looked at Liang Shi beside her: "Sister, why does this look a bit like you?"
Liang Shi: "..."
Liang Shi feigned ignorance: "Really? I feel fine."
Liang Wanwan nodded: "Yes, especially the eyes."
Liang Shi: "..."
"I don't know then." Liang Shi awkwardly touched the tip of his nose. "Let's go look elsewhere."
Liang Wanwan had already walked to another place, but she was still thinking about that painting. When she turned around, she found a lot of people gathered around the painting, all praising it.
"If she were to sell, she could probably fetch a high price," Liang Wanwan muttered. "But Qin Lishuang isn't short of money either; her family is quite wealthy."
Liang Shi coughed softly, feeling as if he were exposed to the sun, and his whole body felt hot.
Liang Shi made an excuse to go to the restroom and escaped, leaving Liang Wanwan alone there to look at the exhibition.
Painters do paint nudes, and there are even specialized nude models.
Both men and women are included.
The painting wasn't particularly large in scale; it was somewhat like an art poster. But Liang Shi still felt uncomfortable after seeing it.
For Qin Lishuang and the public, it was beauty, but that beauty was built on the humiliation of the original owner.
Knowing the inside story, Liang Shi couldn't be as impartial as Liang Wanwan when looking at the painting.
There was no one in the art museum's restroom, and Liang Shi calmed down for a while before going out.
She pushed open the door to the cubicle, and outside was a woman in a bright yellow dress washing her hands. Her figure was voluptuous, with permed hair, and her movements were elegant.
After washing her hands, she tore off a piece of paper and slowly dried them.
Liang Shi saw many elegant ladies today; those who could come here were no ordinary people.
This lady is truly exceptional; every movement she makes is pleasing to the eye.
Liang Shi couldn't help but glance at her a few more times, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye while washing his hands, but he only looked discreetly and didn't make anyone feel uncomfortable.
However, the woman left very soon.
After washing his hands, Liang Shi grabbed a tissue to dry them. When he turned around, he noticed a gray bag on the sink. It was a designer bag worth over six figures and could probably fetch fifty or sixty thousand on a secondhand website.
It must have been left by that lady.