China News Service, Taiyuan, July 26th: "Broken Wings" painter "Realizing Dreams" holds an exhibition: painting is my "painkiller"
Author Yang Jing and Wang Huilin
"When I paint, I can't feel the pain in my body. Painting is like a 'painkiller' for me." Zhang Junli said that she was very happy to be able to "realize her dream" and hold an art exhibition, and hope to continue painting.
On the 26th, after 5 months of preparation, "Sharing Fragrance, Creating Beauty Together" - Zhang Junli's Oil Painting Exhibition opened in Taiyuan City Library, Shanxi Province.
This is the retrospective of the paralyzed woman Zhang Junli's 34 years of painting in bed, and it is also the beginning of her determination to become an oil painting artist.
Zhang Junli said that she was very happy to be able to "realize her dream" and hold an art exhibition, and hoped to continue painting.
Photo by Wei Liang
Born in 1978, Zhang Junli suffered from rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 6. At the age of 8, 85% of the joints in her body could not move, and she was bedridden.
At the age of 10, she drew with a pen between her fingers, and her shoulders moved her arms, becoming a cartoonist for "Science Fiction King".
At the same time, Zhang Junli got acquainted with another cartoonist, Yu Yimei. From pen pals to close friends, Yu Yimei has always encouraged Zhang Junli to move forward on the road of painting.
At the end of 2014, Yu Yimei, who is already a well-known book designer, suggested Zhang Junli to create oil paintings and sent her painting tools. Zhang Junli started the road of self-study oil painting.
"Yimei is my life mentor. Every time I am confused, I will contact her and she will always point me in the direction." Zhang Junli said that Yu Yimei is also a teacher and a friend, and is a "lucky star" in her life.
The exhibition attracted hundreds of people.
Photo by Wei Liang
"Some people have no arms and can still draw with a pen in their mouths. Others can overcome difficulties, and so can I." In the past 34 years, Zhang Junli has created more than 300 paintings while lying on the hospital bed.
In the past 8 years, she has taught herself oil painting, her skills have become more and more solid, and she has been recognized by many professionals.
Seeing Zhang Junli's progress, Yu Yimei suggested that she keep her good works and build up strength for future art exhibitions.
Therefore, holding an art exhibition has become Zhang Junli's wish.
In February of this year, Zhang Junli wrote down her wish in the Kuaishou live broadcast of the "Wishing Pool" event. Without any hope, she was lucky enough to be selected by the organizer and was guided by the China Disabled Persons' Federation. The People's Career News Promotion Association and other units jointly held an art exhibition for Zhang Junli's "Dream Realization".
Zhang Junli's mother told reporters that while waiting for the opening of the exhibition, she felt as if she was waiting for a wedding.
"For a painter, holding the first painting exhibition is like completing a lifelong event." Zhang Junli was also very emotional: "In fact, I don't know what the exhibition means, but I just think it is a good thing, maybe it is to become an oil painting. A necessary experience for an artist."
On the same day, at the opening of the exhibition, good friend Yu Yimei came from Sichuan to accompany Zhang Junli throughout the process.
Yu Yimei said: "Zhang Junli's life experience and spirit have always encouraged me to move forward. She told me with her actions that if you stick to one thing, you will be recognized by everyone and you will be successful."
Zhang Junli said that for an artist, holding the first exhibition is like completing a lifetime event.
Photo by Wei Liang
The bigger the heart, the bigger the stage.
Yu Yimei hopes that her friend Zhang Junli will dare to think and act, and one day she will be able to see the landscape in her dream with her own eyes and fulfill all her dreams.
"Zhang Junli is self-respecting, self-improving, and self-reliant, like a light in the dark, giving people hope and strength." Yang Cong, deputy secretary-general of the China Disabled Persons' News Promotion Association, encouraged Zhang Junli to continue to pursue her dreams.
"I believe in fate, and I also believe that fate can be changed. As long as I try my best to do what I should do, my fate will move towards the future I look forward to. So for so many years, I have painted every picture carefully and waited quietly. Looking forward to the future." In the future, Zhang Junli hopes to be a successful oil painting artist.
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