The Solitary figure roams: Liao Bingxiong, the Century Elder

Author: Zhang Hongmiao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Liao Bingxiong was born in a time of profound disaster. From the moment he understood life, he knew it faced two major threats—hunger and national subjugation. External worries and internal troubles burdened him with the heavy responsibilities of his nation and people from birth. Since his youth, he devoted himself entirely to politics and society, using his brush to scourge darkness and ugliness while calling for light and beauty. He was deeply connected with the history of the Chinese nation for nearly a century. Thus, his entire life carried the vicissitudes of China's past century. Opening the old man's photo album is like opening a collection of historical photographs—each picture tells the story of the changing times. However, his childhood and youth were too poor for him to take a single photograph, not even a group photo with his biological parents. It wasn't until his later years that he returned to the place where he had lived as a child to leave a mark. In his old age, he became a "celebrity." Strangers and acquaintances gathered around him, all wanting to take a selfie with him, making him the "background" of everyone's activities. Journalists from various media followed him, and flashlights flickered at every big and small event. Eventually, stacks of photos were delivered to him. He said, "There are so many photos that I don't know where to put them."