Mr Xu Kushi was born in Chezhuang Village, Xizhangzhuang Town, xintai city. His father is Wu Xiucai in the late Qing Dynasty, his uncle is Wen Xiu Cai, and there are three brothers. His two brothers are familiar with the four books and five classics, and they are proficient in a hundred schools (it is said that they all have a photographic memory). According to the old man in the village, the two brothers foresaw the arrival of socialism at the beginning of the 20th century, so they desperately dispersed their wealth. Even so, they failed to disperse all their wealth. When Mr. Xu Kushi returned to his hometown to participate in the Anti-Japanese War in 1937, he was still able to create a large-scale Liuhe Hotel. Old people say that if these two old gentlemen can devote themselves to the early revolution in China, they must be outstanding revolutionaries. However, fate is extremely unfair to them, and both of them died young before deciding to choose and plan their own life path. Speaking of this matter so far, many old people in the village feel sorry for them. Unlike his two brothers, Mr Xu Kushi prefers painters. It is said that he also had some differences with his brothers in his initial choice.
Mr. Xu Kushi was admitted to Beiping Beihua Academy of Fine Arts with 1932. After investigation, this art school was a private school at that time, founded by Zhang Henshui's four brothers, Zhang Muye and Wang Jingsan. Jing Wang III made a special trip to the Northeast to raise money for North Huamei before the September 18th Incident, but was unfortunately killed by the Japanese invaders. Later, my brother Zhang Henshui invested and became the principal.
Zhang Henshui is a patriotic and upright progressive writer. He stayed away from officialdom all his life and attacked the dark old society with his novels. His four masterpieces, such as History of the Spring and Ming Dynasties, criticized feudal ethics and oppression, Golden Powder Family exposed the corruption of aristocratic bureaucrats, Crying and Laughing was directed at the brutal forces of warlords, and Eighty-one Dreams criticized the dark rule of Kuomintang reactionaries. Zhou Enlai paid special tribute to his fighting spirit. Although Zhang Henshui has no party or faction, he especially hates the dark rule of warlords and reactionaries and sympathizes with and supports the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal revolutionary and progressive forces. The Beiping Beihua Academy of Fine Arts, which he opened in Beijing, became the underground activity stronghold of the Kuomintang Temporary Action Committee, the predecessor of the Agricultural Workers' Democratic Party, in Beiping and the underground stronghold in China. He supported the Temporary Action Committee and the underground struggle in China from all aspects. This historical fact was little known in the past.
Some people may wonder: Zhang Henshui devoted his life to the creation of Zhang Hui's novels. Why does he want to run an art school? It turns out that Mr. Hate Water is a versatile man. He loved painting since he was a child, and he learned from himself without a teacher. He made great achievements in painting art, and later people kept two of his paintings. One is a picture of a pine peak painted for Zhang Youluan, and the other is an album of chrysanthemum stones, both of which have a graceful and elegant charm. He made friends with famous painters such as Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, Wang, Xu Beihong and Lin Fengmian and learned from each other. He also writes painting reviews, and his signature is often "painting pawn". Therefore, he has always been interested in setting up a school dedicated to training fine arts talents. After long-term efforts, Zhang Henshui founded Beiping Private North Huamei College with his own investment, which officially opened on September 193 1. Zhang Henshui is the principal, his fourth brother Zhang Muye is the academic director, Liu Bannong is the school board, and Qi Baishi and Wang Xuetao are honorary school boards. Art college is divided into three classes: Chinese painting department, western painting department and art teacher class. At that time, famous painters such as Qi Baishi, Wang,,, were hired as substitutes. Other staff: Wang Shouxian is in charge of school affairs, Qu Youcheng teaches epigraphy, Deng Xueqiu sketches and sketches, teaches printing and dyeing patterns, Yan teaches mathematics, Zhang Pizhen teaches landscape painting, Wang teaches flowers and birds, and teaches figures and flowers. Other subjects are taught by Zhang Henshui and his family, and North Huamei College enrolls more than 200 students. Until the July 7th Incident, many famous artists were trained, such as Zhang Ding, Lan Ma, Ling Zifeng and Xu Kushi.
At that time, the enrollment of North Huamei College was extremely strict. Perhaps because it is a private school, those who have not been admitted will not be admitted, but those who do have talents will be admitted as an exception, and tuition fees will be reduced for family difficulties. Mr. Zhang Ding, who participated in the design of the national emblem, is one of the beneficiaries.
During his three-year study career, Mr. Xu Kushi, with the spirit of "hanging the beam and stabbing the stock", humbly asked for advice from masters and famous artists, studied hard and meticulously crafted. During this period, Mr. Wang Senran took Mr. Xu Kushi to his hometown for advice many times in his personal relationship, and Mr. Kush was also favored by the old man Baishi. During this period, Mr. Xu Kushi established a close relationship with Zhang Pizhen (also known as Xihe Village), a disciple of Qi Baishi. At the same time, due to his outstanding academic achievements, Li Kuchan, a fellow villager in Shandong Province, attached great importance to it and changed his name to Xu Kushi (formerly known as Xu Xizhang). Since then, all his works have been signed by Xu Kushi (or Dead Stone).
After graduation, I stayed in school to teach because of my excellent grades. At that time, North Huamei College was a private school, and there was absolutely no room for fraud. Without a considerable level of painting, the school will never stay to teach. Up to now, "individuals" in Shandong art circle have ulterior motives to improve themselves, and even quietly erased Mr. Xu Kushi's name from the art world. Among the old artists in Shandong fine arts circle, a few people, like Mr. Xu Kushi, have received three years' study of painting art in orthodox universities, obtained excellent results, were kept in school to teach, and at the same time, they went into the home of Qi Baishi, a master of art, for advice? ! There is an old-timer, who only studied in North Huamei for one year, and is much more famous in Shandong art world than Mr. Xu Kushi. Besides their profound skills, there is also a reason that they are closely related to the leaders of Shandong Arts Festival, and some leaders of Shandong Arts Festival have great personal prejudice against Mr. Xu Kushi. 19881June15th, Baotuquan Park in Jinan, Jinan Information Express and Taian Painting and Calligraphy Institute jointly invited Wu Yanwen and Xu Kushi to hold a painting and calligraphy exhibition in Baotuquan Park in Jinan. Provincial leaders Zhou Xingfu, Li Chunzhi, Xu Jianchun and other colleagues at home and abroad came to congratulate, and Hei Bolong, a famous master of landscape painting in Shandong Province, helped to choose. Some people don't want to hear the abnormal and impetuous views of the art world. When talking about the persecution of some of their artists during the "Cultural Revolution", they chattered, complained and resented. In the 57-year anti-rightist movement, Mr Xu Kushi was persecuted and driven back to his hometown. He devoted himself to agriculture and painting. Through in-depth investigation in the village, he didn't complain at all. He loved the party, the country and the society all his life, and silently suffered the misfortune brought by history. His moral integrity is touching and admirable! Had it not been for Zhu Liquan, former deputy director of the Office of the Ministry of Public Security, Zhou Xingfu, former vice chairman of the Shandong Provincial Political Consultative Conference and director of the United Front Work Department, Li Chunzhi, former director of the Shandong Provincial Department of Chemical Industry, deputy director of the Planning Commission, deputy director of the Economic Commission and director of the Provincial Defense Industry Office, and other old classmates and alumni, who were deeply wronged, they helped Lao Xu to reflect the truth to the relevant departments, and were able to rehabilitate themselves. It is estimated that the artistic talent of this old painter will really be buried in the yellow land. Cao Zeng, a close friend of Tai 'an and former Commissioner of Tai 'an Administrative Office, once commented on Mr. Cao: concentrate on art, be detached from things, be virtuous and virtuous! Wu Yanwen, the former director of the Shandong Provincial Museum of Literature and History and a well-known calligrapher in Tai 'an, admires Mr. Xu Kushi's personality and evaluates him as an art-obsessed person! If Mr. Xu Kushi wants to hype himself before his death, he should easily find Zhang Ding, Dai Lin and other classmates to support him, whether he is an old classmate, an old alumnus working in governments at all levels, or a teacher in the art world. ! However, this stubborn old painter is indifferent to the world, unwilling to speculate, and devoted himself to his work all his life without seeking fame! The vitality of art depends on time. After 30 years, 50 years or even 100 years, when the society develops to the point where some people can't control the art market, people's artistic aesthetics will rise to a certain level, and beautiful things will definitely stand out in front of the world. At that time, Mr. Xu Kushi's personality and works will bring shock to the society!