[Explanation] On July 26, after 5 months of preparations, 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.
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 used a pen between her fingers to draw with her shoulders and arms, and became a cartoonist of "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.
[Concurrent] Zhang Junli
For me, Yimei is my lucky star, the noble person in my life, and my life mentor.
[Concurrent] Yu Yimei
Sometimes I feel like she's giving me strength, she uses her actions to tell me that she can succeed even in a situation like hers if you stick to it.
[Explanation] At the end of 2014, Zhang Junli began to teach herself oil painting.
Due to the necrosis of the joints in her hand, she stuck the brush between her fingers and used her shoulder to drive the brush when painting.
The arm range is not large enough to complete large-scale works, so she put several works together.
At present, she has created more than 300 paintings.
Oil painting skills have been recognized by many professionals.
[Concurrent] Zhang Junli
Because my disease is actually a very painful disease, so when the pain arises, I can't sleep during the day and night, and I can't sit still.
So I don't feel pain when I'm drawing.
So painting is like a painkiller for me.
[Explanation] Seeing Zhang Junli's progress, Yu Yimei suggested that she keep her good works and accumulate strength for future art exhibitions.
Therefore, holding an art exhibition has become Zhang Junli's wish.
In February of this year, Zhang Junli wrote a wish in the "Wish Pool" event on a social platform, and was lucky to be selected by the organizer.
Under the guidance of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Publicity Department of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Shanxi Disabled Persons' Federation, and the China Disabled Persons' News and Promotion Association jointly held an art exhibition for Zhang Junli's "Dream Realization".
While waiting for the opening of the exhibition, Zhang Junli seemed to be waiting for a wedding.
[Concurrent] Zhang Junli
Holding an art exhibition is like completing a major event in life.
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 over the years, I have been painting every painting seriously, quietly waiting for the future to come.
[Explanation] Due to the inconvenience of movement, Zhang Junli's creative inspiration can only come from the Internet or photos from friends' travels.
She hopes that in the future, she will be able to witness the landscape in her dreams with her own eyes and draw unique works.
[Concurrent] Zhang Junli
I want to have a work that can become a classic, not just a painting. I want to have a style of my own, so that my paintings can be handed down. This is another dream of mine.
Reported by reporter Wang Huilin from Taiyuan, Shanxi
Responsible editor: [Ji Xiang]