Unrestrained and modern in the rustic theme, expression of figurative images and feelings are reached in abstract visual connotation. Although new style with the painting, the musical note and rhythm inside transfer in depth Keju’s persistent love for rural areas and life. 

Studying art from 1980s, Keju grew with his early art career in Shandong, pursuing infinite attachment to rural life. He draws both figures and landscapes of rural normality with simplicity and purity, rather than cutting or polishing, which is why we can appreciate a connected tenderness towards land and human as well as light feelings to the changes in the countryside, from which we start to know Keju and his art. It seems that in the land he buried a seed at that time, being catalyzed and sprouted into new life as was knocked by the grand cultural tides from 1990s. He has advanced into a new stage diametrically different from his formal style, evoking a wait-and see attitude from his teachers and friends, with some dull doubt and misgivings. However, nobody had imagined that he could be so courageous and decisive, so unswerving and confident and so persistent and consistent, advancing bravely and honoring permits no turning back. 

With amazing resolutions and willpower of physical health like a male farmer, he have been sweating and ploughing in his field of art for each season, with painstaking efforts for years and a large number of large – scale life drawings. Finally, the “seed” has come into blossom of novelty and originality and been bearing fruits of richness and marvel. 

The most deeply moving scene in this exhibition comes with Rustic Variation. 

Zhu Naizheng