A day of seeking art

Art is often said to be the gem of modern civilizations, a romantic and unique medium of expression. I never understood the significance of art, so I decided to find out for myself.

I asked a friend who is attending art school to take me out for a day and talk to artists.

He first took me to see the Dafen Oil Painting Village in Longgang District, close to where I live. We paid 60 yuan for a session of an art lesson. There, in a shop, we had the opportunity to do our oil paintings following simple instructions by a master. In this store, we also appreciated imitated works of some world-famous artworks.

We then visited an exhibition near Shenzhen Bay, where they displayed artworks by art students in a studio. I was able to see my friend’s work with the theme “Growing Up.” He then gave me some paper and drawing pencils and taught me the basic techniques, which weren’t as hard as I thought them to be.

This experience was a lot of fun. Everybody around me in the room was very excited, with smiles on their faces. Soft music was playing in the background. It had been quite a while since I felt so happy and relaxed.

The group enjoyed dinner together, and it was soon time to say goodbye.

Before I headed home, I was presented with a souvenir. It was a necklace featuring a metal bear pendant in a whole spectrum of colors, symbolizing diversity and joy.

I had thought that learning fine arts or performance arts was just an alternative means to get those students less proficient at academic learning into college. I was wrong. Many kids today, like my friend, choose to learn art because they truly have a passion for this lifestyle. They wish to be able to make a living out of it, but more importantly, they use art as a means of self-expression and sending messages, to make the world a more diverse and better place.

Art is valued, appreciated, and shared by artists as well as the common folk, for it is a strength that brings people together.