Reference News Network reported on December 16 that foreign media said that in China, many elderly people chose to be mannequins, which was driven by utilitarian factors and the pursuit of fun by the elderly.
According to a report on the website of Lianhe Zaobao in Singapore on December 10th, Feng Shifu, known as "Lao Feng" or "Grandpa Feng", stood on the steps in front of the classroom in a classroom. The eyes of the students are all focused on his 67-year-old body-the still tough bones, slightly flabby chest muscles and wrinkled face, which are vividly drawn on the drawing paper after a stroke.
According to the report, Feng Shifu is one of the elderly mannequins in many universities and colleges of fine arts in China. His task is to pose in different positions according to the requirements of art teachers as the material for students to practice body painting or sculpture, depending on the situation, and to go into battle naked from time to time. After a 40-minute class, he can earn 20 yuan (RMB, the same below) and get 100 yuan for half a day.
This is a big income for Feng Shifu. His main job is to mend shoes in a humble little shoe shop in Beibei, Chongqing, with a monthly income of more than 2,000 yuan. Becoming an elderly model 12 years ago not only opened up his source of income, but also opened an extra window for his life.
According to the report, there are many elderly models like Feng Shifu in Chongqing and even in China, and the demand comes from major art colleges and some private studios. Feng Shifu estimates that there are 40 to 50 mannequins in Beibei District of Chongqing alone, of which at least 15 are elderly people, both men and women.
Feng Shifu said: "There is nothing to do after retirement. Being a mannequin can also make a little contribution to education. People always have to find something they like to do, so that life can be regular and life can have hope. "
There are many things you can do when you are old. Why do you choose to be a nude model? There is no lack of doubts and doubts from the outside world, but nudity is natural to Feng Shifu: "I am not the kind of person who looks at problems with the old eyes of the countryside. I feel ashamed to be a nude model!" China was naked a long time ago. When you study art, you will understand that nudity can show people’s beauty. " He said that both his wife and 42-year-old son knew that he was a part-time nude model, and they had no objection.
Not just standing stiffly by.
According to the report, although nude models don’t need any special skills, they have their own difficulties. Fu Nianping, a professor and painter at the School of Fine Arts of Southwest University, explained in an interview that mannequins would be asked to show their body features such as head, neck, shoulders and trunk turning in class, instead of standing stiffly by. He will also ask the model to maintain the posture as much as possible after the teacher stereotypes, otherwise students will have difficulty drawing.
He said: "A good model can maintain posture and have stability. However, it is still very hard to stand still. Some models may not be able to stand it, and they are unwilling to come halfway. We can understand this. "
Fu Nianping emphasized that it is helpful for students to learn human body painting in class, understand the body structure of the human body, and the physical characteristics of young adults to the elderly, which is helpful for future painting creation. After all, different human bodies present different muscle and bone shapes.
It is inevitable that "naked pendulum" will be boring for several hours in a row. When asked if Feng Shifu is satisfied as a nude model, he answered frankly: "Actually, I am not satisfied. However, if students draw well and have real talents and practical learning, if they succeed, it is my greatest joy. "
According to the report, Feng Shifu was not the only one who found a new direction in life by being a nude model. As early as 11 years ago, a "nude model red man" was produced in Chongqing-Tian Qinghua, 62, who was called a "great painter".
In 1986, Tian Qinghua went from the countryside to the main city as a baseball bat, and later moved to sichuan fine arts institute as a model, earning money by "daring to take off" to send her children to school, and gradually cultivated her interest in painting. His talent attracted attention. In 2007, the school held an exhibition of "Grassroots Words" for him. Later, he took his works to Beijing to participate in the exhibition. The inspirational story of "changing a stick into a painter" was widely reported by the media.
According to the report, in the view of Tan Gangqiang, director of Chongqing Xiehe Psychological Consulting Firm and sociologist, it is not only utilitarian factors but also the pursuit of fun for the elderly to be nude models.
When interviewed, he said that for some elderly people who are laid off from enterprises because their children go out to work, being a nude model is a way to survive without special skills. "Many people at the bottom of society face the pressure of life. For them, labor is the most glorious. If the law does not prohibit it, it is legal labor, and the money earned is equally valuable. "
He also pointed out that the people at the bottom generally don’t have access to the so-called "high-end" art. When mannequins or nude models give them such a platform, they have the opportunity to feel the edification of art and make their mood more calm.
Empty nesters are most afraid of loneliness
According to the report, however, there are also some elderly nude models who are sad behind their persistence. In February this year, Sichuan media reported the story of "the oldest nude model in Chengdu" Wang Suzhong (89 years old). He started to work as a nude model in chengdu normal university in 2012, and his income improved his previous life of living on a minimum living standard, but his children strongly opposed his choice as a nude model.
However, Wang Suzhong’s decision to be a nude model did not waver. When interviewed, he said, "I am glorious. I don’t steal or cheat. I have my ideals and my life." Widowed, he is alienated from his children, and now he lives alone. He admits that being a nude model "at least makes me feel needed".
According to the report, Wang Suzhong’s experience has embarrassed many people, but this grandfather who is nearly ninety years old is optimistic. He said: "I want to set an example for empty nesters like me, find my own fun and not become a burden to society."
According to Tan Gangqiang, a sociologist, the old people like Wang Suzhong are most afraid of loneliness. However, he also agrees that the pressure of public opinion will always be there, and even if the elderly can accept it themselves, they have to take care of their families. He believes that on the one hand, the elderly nude model has living space, on the other hand, it will not be too rampant. After all, the elderly nude model is originally a minority demand, and the elderly also have other cultural channels to relieve loneliness.
According to the report, at least in the eyes of teachers and students of the Academy of Fine Arts, the role played by elderly nude models is special and important. Fu Nianping, a professor at the School of Fine Arts of Southwest University, said: "There is no prejudice … We all paint and respect these people. These models have provided great support to art education, and we are still very grateful to them."
Feng Shifu, a dedicated old nude model, told reporters: "I have no regrets if I choose. When the teacher asked me to do something, I just stood there, although sometimes I didn’t stand well and my center of gravity was not adjusted properly, and my body became paralyzed. Being a model depends on perseverance, and you can’t do it without dedication! "