Naturally...

     “Painting for me is just a habit, a way of amusing.” —Xue Song Strictly speaking, Xue Song can not be categorized as normal “artists”. However far away from art, his habit of painting is nothing but an attaching complex from childhood; an insisting ambition; and an unrestrained style of living. Just like a man in his journey who would sojourn on his way for a cup of strong Italian coffee, painting is Xue Song’s way of expression and communication whenever emotions strike.
        Although he is both peer and friend of numerous well-known “top notches” in the circle of art; and younger than the intellectuals of the late 1970s, Xue Song has, together with all of them, explored the cultures between the oriental and the west, and research on traditional philosophies of Zen Buddhism, Daoism and so on. Up till today, he has sustained the deep social responsibility of the generation. However, he refused to follow the trend of the day— the criticism of Scar Art, a realism style of straightforward, the cynicism of Pop Art, uniqueness featuring some modernism, and the latter prevailing of post-modernism which show the superiority of concept-- but established his own way of internalizing art into a natural way of life. He has cast away the theme of asceticism and paradise in traditional art painting, advocating therenaissance of the air of detachment and romance that belong to the Wei and Jin period. Nevertheless, it is by no means that the artist is wearing a classic suit that fit neither him nor the occasion. Anyway, for a work (or an artist) that is put to the proof of history and appreciated by elites from all walks of life of the day, who could dare to depreciate it (or him/her) as the shallow-mined? In fact, it is the real profundity of a man that could truly arouse the emotions deep down of his audiences.
       The Series of Mountains and Stones is a rewarding result of the artist internalization of art. Mountain and stone, as classic art images for all the time, have conveyed not only their inherent features of being tough and pliable, but more of a sense of chaos and ambiguousness of the universe. The mumbling-like images unconsciously revealed the realities in sight of the artist; and the obscure aura, full of changes and magic, reflects the evolvement of human society. Therefore, I would prefer to define the state of Xue Song as being nature resulting from a life treated in a relaxing way , rather than an artificial craft of art. Confronting a messy contemporary art, shouldn’t this arouse our reflection?
       Xue Song’s appreciation for geniuses at all the time in all lands is quite well-known among those who are familiar with him. Some of the geniuses could keep calm and rational as Tao Yuanming when facing ups and downs; some would release their passion for art creation before sobering up; and some has perceived the connotation of " Where ignorance is bliss, it's folly to be wise " of Zheng Banqiao. What’s more, irrespective of the secular restriction of their times, all of them have leaded a normal life as everyone else of the day. The legend-like aureole is just their supplements of life, imposing no influences on their attitudes towards life and art. I do not, of course, incline to deny the achievement of the elites of our time.
      It is just the time that always stops in front of those geniuses who have struggled with secular world to pursue unrestraint lifes. If Xue Song makes his own way, I think it is because he has truly comprehended the essences of art and life.
                                                                                                     —Tang Jing