Living is a paradise

Author: He Lixiu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Graffiti originated in 1970s New York, USA, and is one of the four core elements of "Hip-Hop culture" (alongside street dance, DJing, etc.). It is a revolutionary new art wave in mainstream Western and Eastern art, profoundly influencing design and fashion. Graffiti can be traced back to prehistoric cave paintings left by humans; it is a strong expression of thought and emotion, an absolute experience of pleasure. A Parisian graffiti artist once said, "Graffiti is an incredibly joyful thing, a hundred times more joyful than a woman and a fine meal."
Graffiti originated in 1970s New York, USA, and is one of the four core elements of "Hip-Hop culture" (alongside street dance, DJing, etc.). It is a revolutionary new art wave in mainstream Western and Eastern art, profoundly influencing design and fashion. Graffiti can be traced back to prehistoric cave paintings left by humans; it is a strong expression of thought and emotion, an absolute experience of pleasure. A Parisian graffiti artist once said, "Graffiti is an incredibly joyful thing, a hundred times more joyful than a woman and a fine meal."
"Graffiti is freedom," the author states. This is a set of three personal graffiti sketchbooks. It is the first youth graffiti collection launched in China. Each book features 200 independent graffiti pieces and a short story of about 35 panels—it is indeed the result of the author's long-term creative journey.
He Lixiu was born in 1981. He grew up in the mountains and later in Beijing, with graffiti permeating his life. He is also a well-known "knight" who shares his graffiti works online and has a dedicated following. His style, aside from the artistic characteristics of contemporary graffiti, is distinctly marked by the hard-hitting expressionism of the northern personality. The thoughtfulness and literary nature of the text in his graffiti, combined with his detailed storytelling, reveal a world of passion and clarity—a young man's thoughts, experiences, emotions, and imagination. He offers us a derivative inner image.
Each book also contains a tearful (wise) short story.
The author, He Lixiu, was born in 1981. He grew up in the mountains and later in Beijing, with graffiti permeating his life. He is also a well-known "knight" who shares his graffiti works online and has a dedicated following. His professional background includes animation concept art, director, visual design, and brand apparel logo and T-shirt imagery.
"Living is Paradise" is a more comprehensive visual work, an emotional outpouring about life, the city, childhood, friendship, and more. "How many people are like me, navigating through various encounters, experiencing joy, madness, confusion, and tenderness, making excuses to refuse and escape—all because of our current age, because living is paradise." The included short story is "Niu Niu's Story."