Crafty Liu benefits from a can-do attitude

Liu Xiechang is passionate about two things, illustrations and pull-top cans. He is proud to show visitors to his old apartment in Beijing's west side where he keeps his immense collection of sketches, most of which are from newspapers and magazines of the 1970s and '80s, and cans of soda, beer and juice.

He collects these things, not as mementos, but as materials which he transforms into his own unique brand of art.

Using the soda cans and carbon paper, Liu designs collages that hang on the wall of his three-room apartment. The themes of his artworks include traditional Chinese patterns, such as dragons, flowers and birds, figures from Western fairytales and famous oil paintings, scenes from ancient Chinese literature classics and Chinese textbooks.

His family display has recently been included on the list of Xicheng District's 10 new family folk art museums.

The 66-year-old retired Chinese teacher is most proud of his creative reproductions of the 108 characters from the classic novel, Outlaws of the Marsh (Shui Hu Zhuan).

"I used to listen to Lian Kuoru, the famous story-teller, narrating this masterpiece a lot on the radio. When I started to make can collages three years ago, those characters with their distinctive personalities immediately came to my mind," he says.

He spent three months completing the whole set of 108 figures. He has also written captions for each hero and heroine, detailing their professions, personalities and the reason why they were driven to join the Liang rebels.

Liu says that he was inspired by illustrations from Chinese textbooks.

"Before I retired, a lot of my students knew I was making can collages. They voluntarily handed in a lot of empty soda cans. Days later, I would show them the collages created based on the Chinese texts," he says.

Last year, Liu was voted the most versatile artist by readers of a local publication, and was awarded a week's trip to South Korea.

"On the returning plane, I showed my can collages to other passengers. And guess what? Many gave me their cans after they drank their soda and beers. Even the air waitresses brought me some. I surprised my friends when I showed up at the airport, lifting two plastic bags full of all kinds of cans, most of which I couldn't get in the domestic market," he says.

Liu is also a part-time co-host of a radio program for the elderly, and more listeners are becoming aware of his can art. A man called him one day asking if he could teach him the craft.

"The man is disabled and so are his wife and child. He wants to learn so that he can make a living from it."

Liu took a ride on his bicycle to the man's home on the other side of the city. The man was so excited when Liu arrived that he began to cry.

"I was moved and glad that I could help him. Can collage is quite simple, and you could learn the skill in five minutes. What really matters is the great joy and satisfaction the craft can bring," he says.

(China Daily 01/08/2008 page20)