Yang Lichuan
ECNS, May 24 (by Zhang Zhongjiang) -- Yang Lichuan, former president of Nanjing Zhongshan College of Arts and Sciences and a famous oil painter, who once sparked heated discussions for being a nude model for his students in class, has recently become embroiled in another controversy related to "nudes". Shan Qiwenci, who claimed to have been an oil painting model for Yang Lichuan, stated that without her knowledge, he added a lewd male figure to the painting, which significantly affected her life. After failing to get him to withdraw the artwork, she has entrusted a friend to submit a complaint to the court.
The female nude model: He added a vulgar man to the painting
On May 22, a woman named Shan Qiwenci, who claimed to have been a nude model for Yang Lichuan's oil paintings, left a message on Yang Lichuan's Weibo account stating, "Teacher Yang, I respect you as an artist. But as a girl, I cannot accept the insult portrayed in your work. I can't get over this mental hurdle, so I have no choice but to seek justice through legal means. Your phone is off!!!!!! I have already submitted the lawsuit to the court, hereby notifying you!!!"
Yang Lichuan replied to Shan Qiwenci on Weibo saying, "This is really absurd. I've explained it to you many times. You're forcing my hand."
Subsequently, ECNS contacted Shan Qiwenci to understand the matter. According to her introduction, the incident stemmed from an oil painting created by Yang Lichuan several years ago, where she was the model for his painting.
Shan Qiwenci introduced that she had known Yang Lichuan for many years. In late 2007, she had been a nude model for Yang Lichuan's oil paintings. A long time after that, one of her friends mentioned seeing a photo of a painting on a foreign art website. The nude model in the painting looked very much like Shan Qiwenci.
"I took a look, and indeed, it was painted at that time, but the painting now looks completely different. At the time, it was just me alone, but he added a man himself," said Shan Qiwenci.
Shan Qiwenci expressed that at the time of painting, she thought it was quite beautiful, but the painting she saw now was "quite lewd."
"Anyway, I think it's not nice. There's inexplicably a man added, and it's an especially lewd pose," she said.
After this incident surfaced, what troubled Shan Qiwenci most was her inability to explain it to her family. Her family found it particularly hard to understand, and no matter how she explained, it didn't help. Although she clarified that there was only one model, others still assumed that the man was present at the time.
Shan Qiwenci indicated that she had communicated with Yang Lichuan about this matter and told him that he shouldn't add a man without informing her, as it would have a significant impact on her life.
Shan Qiwenci hoped that Yang Lichuan would take back the painting and destroy it. However, the other party claimed it was artistic creation and refused, also stating that the painting had already been sold. In recent days, when she tried to contact Yang Lichuan again, he either did not answer the phone or had it turned off.
According to Shan Qiwenci's introduction, she has already entrusted a friend to submit a complaint to Chaoyang Court, but whether the court has accepted it is still unknown.
Shan Qiwenci said, "My requirement is that you apologize to me, and the painting must be taken back."
Yang Lichuan: Nonsense, I will "not respond, not explain, not clarify"
Subsequently, ECNS verified this matter with Yang Lichuan, the other party involved. The voice of Yang Lichuan on the other end of the phone sounded slightly weary, repeatedly calling the matter "nonsense."
He stated that he had seen Shan Qiwenci's message on Weibo but chose "not to respond, not to explain, not to clarify" regarding the issue.
Yang Lichuan remarked, "I am an art worker, not some public figure. I don't wish to become the subject of idle chatter for others; let them say whatever they want."
Last year, Yang Lichuan once sparked heated discussions for being a nude model for his students in class. It was reported that due to the absence of the reserved model, Yang Lichuan, then president of Nanjing Zhongshan College of Arts and Sciences, personally stepped in to act as a "nude model." This event caused a great stir after being reported. Yang Lichuan stated in media interviews that there were no female students present, and he had no regrets about the matter, nor was it a publicity stunt.
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