The Other China
Lao Shu is the nom de plume of Liu Shuyong (劉樹勇, 1962-), a Beijing-based artist, writer, critic and professor in communications. His artistic voice is unique and personal, its tenor, whimsy and profundity evoke what for decades we have called ‘The Other China’ — a cultural noosphere that is as undeniably local as it is universal.
[Note: See The Whimsy and Wisdom of Lao Shu, in a summer of discontent, 12 August 2022.]
We marked the first day of the Lunar New Year in the company of Liu Chan 劉蟾 (see A Protection Mantra for the Year of the Rabbit, 22 January 2023). Here we celebrate the second day of the Year of the Rabbit with Lao Shu.
In their art and personal style both artists speak to us from The Other China.
— Geremie R. Barmé
Editor, China Heritage
23 January 2023
Second Day of the First Month of the
Guimao Year of the Rabbit
癸卯兔年正月初二
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Further Reading:
- A Winking Owl, a Volant Dragon & the Tiger’s Arse, 10 January 2022
- Greeting the Year of the Tiger 壬寅虎年, 31 January 2022
- The Tail-end of Tiger Tyranny, 20 January 2023
- Now What? — Greeting the Guimao Year of the Rabbit 癸卯兔年, 21 January 2023
- A Protection Mantra for the Year of the Rabbit, 22 January 2023
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Would love to send you some Pfizer,
But I have neither power nor connections.
What else might possibly be appropriate?
— A baby white rabbit by express mail.
想搞輝瑞藥，
無權又乏術。
何物可送你？
快遞一小兔。
— Lao Shu 老樹
17 January 2023
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So starts yet another year,
Time for felicitous phrases:
Steer clear of fuck wits and
Find fellowship with the good.
Apply yourself to your work,
But set aside time to chill.
May you be free of illness
And have money to spare.
Spring doth stir the heart
As this new year begins.
一元復始，說句吉言：
遠離傻逼，廣結善緣。
努力幹活，時得清閒。
身體無恙，口袋有錢。
春風在心，又是一年。
— Lao Shu 老樹
21 January 2023
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