The entrance to the exhibition mimics the doors of a gallery that sits on the streets of Paris in 1880, and the signature LaMaisonArt Nouveau (Modern House) pays homage to the artist Samuel Bing.

In the window of the main gate, the poster of the exhibition is posted, and the pictorial shows four geometric patterns representing art, technology, East and West, brushes, machines, plants from the Far East, and women from the West, showing the charm of Art Nouveau, the theme of the exhibition. Walking into the prologue hall of the exhibition, it is the curves of metal bent into plants and the ripples of the water surface cut out of stone, which is exactly the technique commonly used by architect Gemma.

At the entrance of the preface hall, stood Yuan Ben.

He wore a white stand-up collar shirt, a dark blue tie, a linen double-breasted waistcoat, a dark blue walking suit, a pair of plaid trousers of the same color, and a pair of thin-rimmed glasses.

"Overalls, in order to match the atmosphere of the exhibition." Yuan Ben explained the reason for his ceremonious attire, "The leader specially found someone to customize it. ”

"Very handsome." Ning Jun raised his thumbs, "The uniform suit overalls are really boring, you guys have done a really good job in detail." ”

"Serve the people." Yuan Ben pushed his glasses and showed a smile like a servant of the people, "Thomas is doing the final confirmation work, and I'll show you around before the opening." ”

Yuan Ben's exhibition is indeed a gold in the details, and in the corridor leading to the theme in the prologue hall, seven lights are projected on the wall using slide projection technology, each with a line of explanation.

"This is taken from John Ruskin's "Seven Lamps of Architecture", the first lamp is consecrated, and the handicraft is a proof of man's devotion to God; The second lamp is authentic, a true reflection of the materials and structures in the way of manual labor. Yuan Ben pointed to a black-and-white photo on the wall and explained, "This is the British Crystal Palace, built after the Industrial Revolution, the progress of technology has brought about the proliferation of material applications, but also changed the shape of the building, John Ruskin once said that the Crystal Palace is a behemoth in their time wearing large glass and pig iron coats." He is a typical conservative, and if he lived today, I am afraid that he would not agree to participate in this exhibition, after all, the overall shape of the CBD is what he hates the most. ”

"The fifth lamp life, only through the completion of the construction by hand can the joy of the craftsman's labor be transformed into an art that can move people's hearts; The seventh lamp is faithful, there is no self-righteous creation, only the essence of the best products that have been saved. ”

"I can understand Ruskin's idea that what machines make does affect the joy of life. Handmade products have more stories and characters. ”

"Hahaha, you are the aesthetic taste of a typical propertied person. At that time, many people from wealthy families were worried that the standardized production of machines would cause an overall decline in the interest of life. ”

"Isn't it?"

"As a proletarian, I agree more with what Nicholas Pevsner said about art, if not art that everyone can enjoy, then what does art have to do with us."

"Art will inherently select audiences, for example, Lao Xu, he will not be able to enjoy art." Ning Jun lifted Xu Douxiao, who had been silently with him, out, "I dare to say that he didn't hear a word at all." According to you, this art exhibition is meaningless. ”

"People like Lao Xu are buyers of art."

"What do you say?"

"Because he has a fiancée like you who knows how to enjoy art, he must pay for art." Yuan Ben guided them into the main hall, "So we can't judge the taste of the gold lords, as long as we respect them." ”

Ning Jun applauded Yuan Ben.

"After all, we have been in the service industry for many years."

Xu Douxiao didn't refute at all, he had no taste and no artistic perception, but he had the ability to spend, there was no need to struggle, Yuan Ben had already mocked him a hundred times. He just wanted to follow them now, listen to his rambling teasing, and steal a little bit of the sweetness of the old days.

In any case, no matter how much conservative theorists argue, the hand is no match for the machine, neither the builders of the Crystal Palace nor the creators of new forms have ever become real changemakers, and Semper's idea of going back to the source and finding the prototype is perhaps more instructive. Based on the present, in the face of high-speed iterative scientific and technological development, the practice of blindly applying new technologies and the idea of historicism cannot bring great changes, and the important thing is to face the torrent of the times and discover the 'new feelings' that belong to this era. ”

"Mucha is a very successful artist in terms of the past for the present, development and change." Yuan Ben pointed to the group of paintings named after the four seasons, "This kind of use of plants, geometric figures, and depictions of women's beauty are indeed very good......

At this time, the walkie-talkie on Yuan himself rang, he listened to it, and apologized to say goodbye to them: "The opening ceremony will start soon, I still have some things to do, you can go around casually first, and let Thomas explain to you later, he is much more professional in Western painting." ”

After Yuan Ben left, Xu Douxiao asked a question he had always wanted to ask.

"How did you two talk so much, how did you meet?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

Two years ago.

The last time Yuan Ben saw Su Tang was half a year later, not long after Christmas, the snow was gradually melting, and the snow water mixed with the dirt was full of dirty gray. At that time, he was burdened with five heavy reference books, and his head was wandering around the painful summary of the end of the year, and Su Tang, who was wearing a white down jacket, could be said to be abruptly blocking his way.

Yuan Ben didn't have time to step on the other party's foot with his heavy boots, he took a step back, looked at her in confusion, and couldn't remember her identity for a while.

"Yuan Ben." Su Tang smiled sadly, "I want to talk to you." ”

Oh. Yuan Ben suddenly realized, suddenly appeared, and asked to talk to him with a sad face, everything seemed to be a tragedy again, this petite lady could only be Xu Douxiao's cousin. At the moment, Yuan Ben had no other ideas than to run away, but unfortunately social morality required him to stand in place and nodded with a forced smile.

"Coffee?"

Yuan Ben has never liked coffee, it is Xu Douxiao who likes coffee, given that every time he smells coffee, he will be reminded of his ex-boyfriend, and it is really not a good choice to "talk" with his ex-boyfriend's cousin in a café, but it is better than standing in the ice and snow.

"I went to the museum, and your colleague told me that you usually work in the library on Thursday to prepare papers." Su Tang took a sip of his coffee, "That's, that's good." ”

Yuan Ben frowned, not understanding what she meant. He knew very well what kind of attitude Xu Douxiao's family had towards the relationship between them, and Su Tang's appearance would not be just for a few innocuous greetings.

Xu Douxiao had an accident, and it was a big deal. A thought flashed in his mind, and his heart hurt, and even his expression was distorted.

"Xiao Xiao has an accident." Su Tang paused, tears dripping into the coffee, "He has had a bad time in the past six months, smoking, drinking, and working hard, and no one will listen to him...... Fainted in the apartment yesterday, if not, or someone to see it, I know I shouldn't come to you, but at this time, only you can persuade him, I came over without telling his parents, they ......"

Yuan Ben didn't speak, leaned on the booth and listened to Su Tang's intermittent description of Xu Douxiao's absurd work and rest in the past six months.

"I see." He could almost be regarded as coldly taking out the tissue paper from his bag and handing it to Su Tang, "I'll take a look." ”

Yuan Ben got up and paid the money, stuffing the hospital address and ward number given to him by Su Tang in his pocket, Xu Douxiao in his mind, and Su Tang's desire to speak again.

"Auntie, aunt, she can't stand the slightest toss."

Of course, Yuan Ben has seen Xu Douxiao's mother, decisive and stubborn, for the sake of his son's "normality" can fight to the death, he remembered the war half a year ago, his heart throbbed, at that time he withdrew just to get Xu Douxiao's life back on track, but he forgot, he and Xu Douxiao's seven years together occupied an important position in each other's lives, in Xu Douxiao's life, being with him is on the right track, and his departure is not a tolerant letting go but a cowardly escape.

Yuan Ben called Su Tang before going to the hospital, and made sure that Xu Douxiao's parents had left the hospital that day, and he rubbed around the supermarket next to the hospital for nearly an hour, wandering in front of one shelf after another, forcing himself to pick a gift for visiting the patient. Then he stood stupidly at the door of Xu Douxiao's ward, through the window, he saw a petite girl in loose clothes sitting at the head of the bed, her black hair was casually coiled behind her head, and the dark circles under her eyes made her tearful eyes big and scary, she was helping Xu Douxiao wipe her hands, saying something while wiping, obviously sad and forced to laugh.

Yuan Ben didn't know her, he had never seen her, and he had never heard of such a person.

He watched her gently put Xu Douxiao's hand into the quilt, pressed the corners of the quilt, picked up the basin and walked to the door, Yuan wanted to dodge, but felt that he was ridiculous, and the door opened after hesitation.

The girl, apparently startled by the man standing at the door, pursed her lips, pulled her hair behind her ears, and looked at him inquiringly, "Who are you?" “

"I'm here to see Xu Douxiao." Yuan Ben defensively lifted the fruit basket and shook it to prove something, "I heard that he is sick, uh, I am his college classmate." Uh, Yuan Ben. “

"His sister told you that." She smiled and stretched out her hand, "I haven't introduced myself yet, I'm Ning Jun, Xu Douxiao's girlfriend." “

Oh. Yuan Ben blinked. Oh.

He also reached out and shook it gently, she looked so small, no more than her shoulder, soft but tough, she looked like the type that couldn't stop her. It is very suitable for Xu Douxiao.

Yuan wanted to go home.