Chapter 38: The Top Bosses in Various Industries Can't Sit Still
The school gate stood tens of meters high, spanning between two mountains. Exquisitely carved dragons and phoenixes adorned the stone pillars on either side, giving the gate a lifelike appearance reminiscent of the mythical Heavenly Palace.
In a bustling city, within a Calligraphy Association, Song Yushan was deeply engrossed in a video on his phone. His body trembled involuntarily as he watched. The video had been forwarded to him by one of his students, and it depicted a majestic gate positioned between two mountains. However, what truly astonished Song Yushan were the four prominent characters at the top of the gate—Shanhe University. These characters were masterfully written, demonstrating unparalleled strength and vitality. They deviated from the conventions of running script and cursive script, showcasing a distinctive style.
"This... Who could have penned these characters?" Song Yushan whispered, suppressing his excitement. Such writing had to come from a top-tier calligraphy master. Among China's 1.4 billion people, no more than five individuals were capable of crafting these four characters. Moreover, the writing displayed several techniques that were entirely unfamiliar to him, along with an indescribable sense of dominance.
"Yes, it's dominantly powerful," Song Yushan exclaimed, clenching his fists. "It conveys a sense of looking down upon mountains and rivers, transcending time and history."
Ordinary individuals would invariably experience a profound sense of insignificance when faced with this gate. With this realization, Song Yushan took a deep breath and prepared his pen and ink, carefully setting them on his desk. Leaning in, he attempted to replicate the characters.
Half an hour later, he had copied the characters over forty times, yet none of his attempts could capture the true essence of the four characters, "Shanhe University." Despite being a renowned contemporary calligrapher who could easily emulate ancient calligraphy styles, this particular task proved exceptionally challenging. He couldn't even capture 20% of the characters' true essence.
In Zizhou, a prestigious 985 university, within the Academy of Arts, Dean Yang Anguo was delivering a lecture on the history of ancient sculpture to his students. Despite being eighty years old, he remained actively engaged in teaching, sharing his knowledge and wisdom with the younger generation.
During his lecture, Yang Anguo discussed Dunhuang's painted sculptures, an art form that had been preserved for over three thousand years and still featured more than two thousand statues. Their long history and exquisite craftsmanship made them rare treasures globally.
"Speaking of ancient sculptures," Yang Anguo continued, "one cannot overlook Dunhuang's painted sculptures. They have endured for three millennia, with over two thousand statues still in existence. Their ancient history and exceptional artistry are unparalleled in the world."
However, Yang Anguo also lamented the current state of China's sculpture industry, which lagged behind that of other nations, with few young talents emerging to lead the field.
As he spoke about the decline of China's artistic achievements compared to the past, one of his students raised a question. The student shared a video on their phone, asking, "What level of sculpture expertise does this artwork on the school gate belong to?"
Yang Anguo, intrigued by the student's inquiry, watched the video attentively. The video portrayed a grand gate positioned amidst the mountains, surrounded by clouds and mist. Suddenly, a majestic dragon with a raised head appeared, as if soaring through the clouds. Accompanying it was a graceful phoenix with elegant movements, both created solely through optical illusions formed by light and shadow.
Yang Anguo recognized that these lifelike figures were, in reality, sculptures. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Lifelike yet illusory, this represents the pinnacle of sculpture!"
Further observation revealed that the dragon and phoenix were masterfully crafted optical illusions, enhancing the sculpture's realism. Yang Anguo was deeply moved by the artwork, which epitomized the highest attainable state in sculpture.
"It's beyond mere skill; it's a work of genius!" Yang Anguo declared, his voice filled with admiration. "Such mastery exceeds even the world's top-tier sculptures."
Curious, he inquired about the sculptor responsible for this masterpiece. He was certain that the artist was from China, as dragons and phoenixes were quintessentially Chinese symbols.
The student, however, could only provide limited information, mentioning that the sculpture was part of Shanhe University's gate.
"Shanhe University?" Yang Anguo mused aloud, his attention drawn to the four characters displayed prominently on the gate in the video. The university seemed distinctive in its setting, nestled between two mountains against a backdrop of natural beauty.
To unravel the mystery of this extraordinary artist, Yang Anguo realized that he would have to explore Shanhe University itself. After watching the video, all he could think about was meeting this legendary master and learning from them, especially given the sculpture's ability to breathe life into its subjects—a feat he had yearned to achieve throughout his career.
Bringing sculptures to life was no simple task, and making them believable was almost impossible. However, the gate of Shanhe University had accomplished both with unparalleled skill.