Painting as a Window into Chinese History Second edition BiLan Liao Copyright © 2016 by BiLan Liao All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or in any way, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of BiLan Liao, including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or broadcast for any purpose. Library of Congress Control Number: 2018913249 ISBN: 978-0-9969682-1-8 Printed and bound in the United States of America For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please email: [email protected] [email protected] To purchase prints of BiLan’s art please email: [email protected] For speaking engagements please email: [email protected] For more information about BiLan’s work please visit her website at: www.bilanliao.com Global Freedom International Publishing, LLC 3355 Medlock Bridge Rd. Norcross, GA, US 30092 2 Preface Ms. BiLan Liao was one of the most outstanding students I have taught in China in 1992, and we have remained good friends over these many years. She is blessed with a variety of artistic talents, and she is also an art educator. She was born and grow up in China. She and her family have experienced many reform movements under the Mao Zedong dictatorship. The movement most know in the West was China’s Cultural Revolution, the worst tragedy in human history. Not knowing how to speak English when BiLan immigrated to the United States in 1999, she started as a child would to learn a new language and customs. In nine years, she received her two master’s degrees in art (MA and MFA), and she became an art professor at an America college. During that time, BiLan painted the story of her and her family’s hardships under the Mao Zedong regime, and she has written her book, Diary of the Dragon’s Daughter. Her series of paintings and the book follow her family’s journey, telling the truth of Chinese history. Her hope is that we will learn from history, and not repeat such a tragedy again. People often say, “A wealth of experiences makes you rich.” BiLan is a person of great “wealth.” Although she experienced a very difficult life during the Cultural Revolution when she was young, she never gave up her dream for freedom and an art career. She has extraordi- nary courage and stamina when producing works of art. She dares to travel alone in the high mountains of the Qingzang Plateau, and she dares to float in Zijiang River by herself in pursuit of her inspiration and her art. Over the years, her footprints have spread over many places in China and overseas. BiLan has a special perception that sparks with inspiration revealed in her daily pursuit of art. When you are viewing her work, it seems as if you were going back to nature, and different moods and feelings may arise within you. Her photographs and paintings are made more colorful with an exceptional use of lighting. Artists like BiLan love art because they love nature and enjoy life, and they can transform their spiritual feelings through the paint brush on to the canvas. Bilan integrates her artistic talents into both painting and photography. Art is her soul. When reading BiLan’s works you will enjoy the beauty of poetry and the joy of love as well. Twenty years ago, I wrote a preface for another of her books, stating, “She is like a shining pearl no matter with sunshine or not.” Today, I still present these two sentences to Ms. Bilan Liao, who well deserves it! Li Zhensheng New York, January 8, 2019 (Li Zhensheng is a Chinese photojournalist who captured many of the most telling images from the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution) 3 Preface BiLan Liao is a contemporary Chinese artist, educator, with the dream of finally coming to America. Under the and motivational speaker. She was born and raised in political system, BiLan was not allowed to paint what she China. She and her family experienced the many reforms wanted to paint. As an artist, BiLan dreamed of painting under Mao Ze Dong from 1949 to 1976. The most what she felt from the depths of her heart and soul, and to common reform is known in the West as the Chinese paint the story of her family’s journey. During her journey Cultural Revolution, which would become the modern there were many setbacks, and each time BiLan vowed to world’s greatest tragedy. Most people do not know that herself and her daughter that she would never give up her historians agree that the number of people who died dream. during these reforms was far greater than under Hitler during WWII. The Diary of Anne Frank helped to expose While still in China in 1999, she was granted a U.S. the personal events so that people could have a deeper permanent residency visa under the “Alien of Extraordi- understanding of this great injustice. BiLan has painted nary Abilities” category. At the age of forty-five, she gave the story of her journey, and written her book, Diary of the up an established career and the financial security she had Dragon’s Daughter, to bring to light the truth that all great finally gained as a successful artist in China to come to nations have a dark period in their history. Her greatest America. Although BiLan had studied English in school, wish is to paint her very best in hopes that it will help to she hardly spoke it at all when she arrived in the United avoid similar disasters in the future. She also paints to States. But she was as determined in her efforts to learn express her deepest feelings, to enhance her mental health, it as she was with everything else she pursued--painting, and to encourage others to “Never Give Up Their Dreams.” photography, fashion design, sculpture, journalism and teaching. During the nine years she has lived in America, BiLan was born in 1954 during the 100-year flood of the she worked her way up from a lowly dishwasher in the Changsha Xiangjiang river. Though Mao Ze Dong had cafeteria at Purdue University while she spent much of her declared that people would have a great life under his time learning English and the customs of her new home- many reform programs and be surrounded by flowers, the land. BiLan also earned two master’s degrees in painting, flood foretold the disaster that was about to befall the and she studied art in Italy. She taught at the Herron Chinese people. BiLan’s father was a physician, and along School of Art and Design for five years, and for eight years with other professionals, educators, and business owners, she led the painting program at Paducah School of Art & he and his family lost everything and were sent to work in Design, where she built the BiLan Liao Gallery. On March the factories and on farms. Many went to prison as well. 15, 2016 BiLan was married, thus fulfilling her dream of a BiLan’s father was “labeled a Capitalist,” and he went to romantic and loving marriage. She has now retired as an prison three times while BiLan along with her mother, Associate Professor to concentrate on her artwork, public grandmother, sister and brother went hungry along with speaking tours, museum special events featuring her work, millions of Chinese. At the age of fourteen, BiLan went a documentary, and a feature film. Her paintings were so to work as a welder to help support her family. When she moving to Maestro Juan Ramirez (violin) of the Atlanta was fifteen, her job required her to leave home to work at Symphony Orchestra that he has composed several another factory where the only lodging was an old morgue. pieces in her honor. BiLan has become a beacon of hope Each night BiLan was afraid as she slept with the fear of and freedom for people around the world to face their ghosts at her window. During this time BiLan was fears, express their deepest feelings and, find the courage to fortunate to have educators working alongside her who stand up against injustice. helped her continue to study in hiding. With the encouragement of these “Capitalist-Educators,” BiLan Ken Scroggs LCSW, LPC, LMFT, CEAP, BC-TMH learned at an early age to never give up her dream of President/CEO, Health Works Solutions and EAP Works freedom. She endured many hardships, discrimination, an Psychotherapist, Certified Employee Assistance Professional, Board abusive husband, and much more through these dark times Certified TeleMental Health Professional Introduction This book is my invitation for readers to join my life’s politics, and this book is not intended as a political journey as told through my artwork and diary. We begin statement. It is simply a true account of my life experience. with my dream for the freedom to come to the United I hope my paintings will be a window for the viewer to States. The next steps take us through the dark period look into my world as well as a window into his or her known as the Chinese Cultural Revolution, which search for meaning, purpose, love, and acceptance. devastated the economy and caused the deaths of millions of people. We then travel through my life experiences that The book includes three series of artwork. Painting as a occurred during a period of great economic mobilization Window into Chinese History is about the five generations in major Chinese cities to my goal of finally living my of women in my family who experienced discrimination, American Dream.