(Former Deputy General Secretary in Shanghai Artist Association Chen Qi)

　　The topics concerning --"What to paint?" "How to paint?" were discussed in art circles for many years,. Now a lot of artists argue that "how to paint" is more worthy to think instead of "What to paint". In fact, the latter one is the positioning used by artists to perform their things and Objects. While the previous one reflects the artist's personality and style. When seeing ShouBai's works, I realized both of them are very important.

　　In 2006, I saw shouai's works with strong Jiangnan customs on the Shanghai Art Fair. These paintings gave me nostalgic feeling of hometown and very different from other artists, which can arouse people's unforgettable memory of old time in shanghai. Many details even reminded me of the story happened in one alley, one shikumen, one courtyard. These stories happened among group of people from different region and lifestyles just like the plot written in the book <<Under shanghai Eaves>> by XiaYan, the beautiful geishas, dancers wearing the beautiful cheongsam were often depicted in Eileen Chang's novels. Shoubai's paintings reflects the vivid picture of life in shanghai lane. He combines the traditional heavy color painting with paper-cut elements to paint on the rice paper with soft brushwork, fluid lines, strong colors and uses his paintings to present us the tranquil culture and relive past life style in old-shanghai. He attributes his distinct personal style to life experience and emotion.

　　His position of "what to paint, how to paint" is not by accident, Shoubai li, a professional artist, who was born in an old and well known art family at shanghai in 1962. He graduated from shanghai Industrial Arts College and learned from famous painter Mr Ximing Lin and deceased Chinese paper-cut master Mr. ZiGan Wang. And the 10 years experience of living abroad since 1991, shoubai li also held his individual exhibitions in Singapore, Malaysia,Japan. During those periods, he reviewed the cultural art of Chinese nation and regarded the Chinese art, Shanghai art which are the treasure of world cultural heritage as the theme of his works. Shoubai has devoted all his attention on shikumen and old-shanghai style from the life of shikumen, painting, paper-cut, and overseas experience.

　　Since 2003, shoubai Li has created many works with the background of "shanghai shikumen" and "shanghai Nursery Rhythm" which aroused much attention from artists and collectors at home and abroad. In 2004, he was crowned as the "Master in Art of Paper-cut with both Outstanding Character and Professional Competence" by China's Folk Artist Association. In 2006, his paper-cut work "shanghai Nursery Rhythm" won the first prize in the international paper-cut art fair which was held in Hangzhou. In 2007, paper-cut work "Shi Ku Men Silhouette" was collected by Chinese Paper-cut Museum. In June, 2007, shoubai's paper-cut was chosen by Chinese cultural department to display on the exhibition of "Chinese non-material cultural heritage". At the same year, paper-cut work "lost dream of shanghai" won the greatest prize--- "Golden Scissor" in the 8thChinese Art Fair .

　　Many years of exploration and effort proved shoubai's choice and position is right. His works have been recognized by the market, I sincerely hope that shoubai will gain greater achievements in his art career. At last, I quoted the words as ending wrote by a famous editor---Lvzhi Qin for shoubai's works--- ""Re-seeing the shikumen which are fading away from our sight gradually, and walking along the narrow lane also as a passer , which left me the most unforgettable memory is hearing the murmur through the unlatched window at dusk".

作者：Chen Qi