This is Hao.
small island studio by 宣雄
Xiong Xuan Melancholy
陈老师，谢谢你在我最渴望求知的年龄写下了《纽约琐记》，你打开了我的眼界，那个时候我18岁，大二，读到你写的大都会美术馆，就下决心有一天真的要来看一看。今天，我到过了大都会美术馆，看到了那么多那么多的油画，像一个口渴的人咕咚咕咚喝了好多凉水。我有一个心愿：有生之年要在大都会美术馆做一个个展，展出我的一生的素描，配上金色的框子，浓妆艳抹的登场，也好对得住我的心。君子言既出，行必果，我一定会做到的。现在就是要安安静静地工作，把每天过得平静而充实。每天画到一定的量，然后像读小说一样看一个电影，随便什么电影都可以，就是体会故事的情节，人物的表情和情感，以及各种细节之间的联系。现在我重读你的书，我试着把它翻译出来，希望你可以看得到。我的英文比较简单，用简单的词汇，简单的短句，平铺直叙的把意思说出来就好。希望你会喜欢，希望你的书可以在美国发表英文版。我看到自己在书的白边写的字，看到自己年幼时候的无知和真心，很感动。宣雄写于2026年初。
Dear Dan, thank you for writing down <My painting time at New York City> when I was so desire to learn. You opened my window. St that time, i was 18, the second year of University time. I read you writing about the Metropolitan Museum of Art, so I determined to come and look, in real. Today, I have been Metropolitan Museum, I had seen so many paintings. It's like a thirsty person suddenly drinking a ton of cold water. I have a wish: i wish I could make a solo exhibition at Metropolitan Museum of Art, with my living time, with all my drawings my entire life. Put them in golden frames, to show up nicely and decently. So it's my heart. A honest man will do what he say, to keep the promise, I will make it.Right now, just put down all vanity, just keep drawing everyday, calmly and peacefully. Draw till certain amount of time a day, and then, by the end, I will watch a movie. Whatever movie it is, it's ok, i just need to comprehend the story, observe characters' facial expression and their moods, as well as the connections of all tiny details. Right now, I pick up your book again, try to translate it. I hope one day you could see it. My English style is very simple. Just use very simple vocabulary, brief sentences, to tell the basic meaning of the article. i hope you will like it. I hope you could publish your book in English. i saw my own words on the edges, i see a young me looks so ignorant, but so sincere, i am so moved. by Melancholy Xiong Xuan, at the beginning of 2026.
This is translation from Dan's book. 宣雄译自陈老师的《纽约琐记》
Auer story part3
There are Auer's paintings all over the studio. The biggest one occupied the entirre east wall. It took Auer five or six years. It's never finished. It depicts larger than live sized nude figures, as well as babies ( Of course, Stephenie and the baby posed for him.) The composition is all kinds of perspective. There are Greek temple and wild fields in the background. There is a rich man who lived in the east side of Manhattan like his work, (he is the only person like him), it finished on the hallway of the third floor stairs. Greek stories, Bible stories, Roman fightings, he drew his family, and then copied a hundred copies, these figures crowded on the narrow irregular wall. When he turn on lights, I noticed wrong shape, stimulating colors, absent-minded gestures. Put all these together, it looks wired touching effect. Even though his awareness of creating hasn't ripe yet, but his crazy imagination turns to be decoration here. He put his passion in this work, and the space matched the decoration. I praised him, he didn't laugh loudly like 7 years ago. He hug me, saying lowly: "You are the only person understand me."
But I didn't speak true. Indeed, I understand him, thereby I pity his struggle. I thank that rich landlord more than him for the chance. Because he paid for him to do this crazy painting. But why should I pity him? This Roman act a modern bravely and fearlessly in doing traditional paintings. I respect him. This is his dream. For so many years it's hard for me to hide the pity for him, right now I can put it down. This painting offered me a chance to respect him and praise him.
When there is no money work, Auer back to his studio. He is working on a single piece, still, it's hard to handle. He is trying hard to paint "merchant paintings", depicting his wife stephenie dressing like rich lady or a spirit in woods, or naked woman in a splendid house. These rough brushstrokes and sweet content crowded against the wall with those sincere Jesus on the Cross. If there is an art dealer visit, I rather show Auer's works to him. Auer always argue till red ears, stubborn with words. His voice became louder and louder, he argue for his ideas. The man left. The door closed. Quiet. Auer's neck still red for a long time, he wouldn't say anything, just continued to work silently. If I say he wasn't feel well with his painting that day, scratch the paints, throw down the brushes, it will be like a novel, but it's real like this. I was there, i wouldn't say anything.
He never complained. I never heard of him complaining about couldn't sell works. One day, Auer told me: He wanted to take a painting out of stacks, years old works stack layers after layers, stopping each other. "I hate these trash!" and show a angry face to me. At that moment, his face looks like a hero in Roman fightings. He try to take out the piece too strongly, the wood stick into his face, blood every where. Stephenie was scared. I yield to her: " Why I am doing this? Why I do all thse ?"
Actually, when he was telling me this, he was painting really well, he feel great. He speak out, because he know a happy moment can defeat all hatred. ( it's the same oppositely>) I told him this idea, he shocked, and then laugh loudly:" Yes! Yes! We idiots!" That day, he carried one of his painting with me to the subway station, explaining that he want to show it to his wife. He show the canvas side outside deliberately, I knew he wish passengers could see it.
If we can reach our dream, it depends if you try hard even of knowing you couldn't, and then fail in glory. There is success in the fail. I wouldn't understand it before I come out a decade ago. Right now, I likve among tons of artist in New York City, I wouldn't feel glory, just keep working. I used to tell Auer what i mean, he got moved for a couple of minutes, and then he suddenly start to talking Bible to me, but my English is too limited to understand him. In America, artist means people who making everyday, to mark your identity and your respect. So far what I see, Auer never stopped painting. He painted brilliant details without being aware of it. He paint so much better than it used to be. The burden of his family, being minimal obscure, didn't hit him down, he didn't give up. He trying really hard to feed his family. And he still live in the decision which he made when he was just 18 years old.
Auer is my first painting friend in America. He is 32 right now, (it's 20 years ago). They moved to my area, he invited to come, his children rush out of the bedroom and jumping and screaming on sofas, the little girl so much like Velázquez s painting. The French woman had her thrid child two years ago, right now she is carrying her fourth one. I saw Auer last month. He was walking among crowds on the other side of the road. He is wearing the trousers full of paints, walking in familiar steps, a little reckless, a little don't care. Auer didn't see me, and i didn't call him.
the story is over.
This is Melancholy Xiong Xuan's personal website, just about my drawings, essays and some photos during drawing process, this is my everyday drawing life as an artist, I built up this small-island since 2013 at State College, PA. I know how precious to have your support, it is meaningful to drawing everyday, and it is meaningful that you see it on my website, it is like an isolated small island, away from lure from reality world, let me be dreaming, if you like my drawings, I will be so appreciating your support, thank you very much. contact: melancholysmallislandstudio@gmail.com or xiong.xuan@gmail.com if you would like to read more about my story and my art, you can find it in "about" as well as "essay".
橄榄树