APRIL 2006 Liu Cao – After the Death of Shubin
Lily Pietryka

Those of you who were on our mailing list have read my newsletter from last August on Shubin’s death and how Liu Cao tried to cope with the tragedy turned into ordeal. I have been in close contact with Liu Cao for two reasons: she is our featured artist and we are doing a show for her this November (please see MFA News and Events/upcoming events), and also, I have been very worried about her, knowing how emotionally devastated she was and the amount of debt she went into to save Shubin’s life.

Liu Cao in Tibet

We did have a few phone calls when we both ended up in tears remembering Shubin and what had happened. But gradually, the tone of the conversations became lighter. She is now busy painting, running an art studio in Lahsa, Tibet, and doing everything that Shubin used to do--taking care of herself, connecting the computers and even fixing the plumbing.

“Shubin used to baby me. He reminded me to wash my hands before meals… He took care of everything around the house. He made me feel so nurtured and loved… I was the happiest when we were married.”

“Now he is gone, I learned to depend on myself. One thing I have learnt from what had happened is: in life, ultimately you only have yourself to depend on. There may be people that care for you and love you at one time or another in your life. But in the end, you are the one that is responsible for your own happiness and misery; your own successes and failures.”

I could not agree with her more on this. And the sooner we realize this, the sooner we free ourselves from expectations and disappointments; from waiting for others’ approval or help to live the life that we desire to live. The sooner we are on our way to personal growth and freedom.

I asked her whether she still misses Shubin.

“I think of Shubin everyday. But I try to busy myself with other things so it does not get me down. Nobody will ever fully understand the extent of my loss when I lost Shubin. He was not just a loving husband to me. He was also my only and best friend, my mentor professionally and personally. You know Shubin, he was such a stand-up man, so fair, kind and always tried to do the right thing. He has taught me so much – not just on being an artist but on being a person.”

“But what am I to do? He is gone – he will never come back. I tell myself to get up everyday and do everything that I was supposed to do that day. I do it with diligence and serious effort. Even if it is something very small. It helps me get through the day instead of wallowing in self-pity and sadness.

And things are getting better. All those small steps really helped.”

Loss is part of life. We are faced with losses everyday. Should it be loss of a loved one, a job, or good health. Nobody is immune to it. Even for somebody who seems to have it all. We lose our time and our youth every minute and every day. What are we to do? We pick up the broken pieces and we push forward. No matter how disappointed, scared and tired we are.

And we will get somewhere. Eventually. As long as we hold our head up high and do not stop trying.

More than seven months have passed by. I witnessed Liu Cao emerge from being totally crushed by the tragedy, grieving, getting back on her feet and now thriving and breaking through personally and professionally. I am so happy for her. And I am so proud of her!

You can see it in her paintings too. I receive the jpgs from her after she completes a painting. I was delighted to see the changes in her painting. The background becomes lighter and more colorful. The heaviness was gone. The strokes become freer and more fluent. Less constrained, therefore more alive. But the gazes remain engaging and piercing in the children’s eyes. You can’t help but wonder: what is behind that thoughtfulness?

See below the paintings from the Liu Cao collection in Mandarin Fine Art Gallery.:

In The Wind		The Girl With The Fur Hat

Liu Cao came to Florida for an opening of an exhibition in March. It was her first time to the US. The exhibition went really well and she was very happy about it.

“I do not always understand what people say to me because my English is not very good. But I observed them when they stood in front of my paintings. I know that there was some kind of connection. I know that my paintings carry a voice that those people heard and understood. Or at least willing to listen.”

“My paintings sell very well in Tibet. People from all over the world come in my studio and buy my paintings. But at least they were in Tibet. It makes them understand my painting because they have experienced it in person.”

“But for those people that live in the US and have never been to Tibet. For them to love and appreciate my paintings, it really means a lot to me. It says that there is something universal in art. The fundamental human emotions. That everybody could connect with. It says that I have succeeded in capturing and expressing that in my paintings. It makes me very proud.”

I am very proud of her as well. I am proud of her artistic achievement and those that are yet to come; I am proud of her strength and courage in facing life’s adversity and challenges. As a friend and as her dealer, I am excited to see who she is and who she is yet to become.

She is a great inspiration to me. As an artist, as a young woman and as a person.

We are planning to do a show for her in November 2006. Please check our website periodically as we will post new photos of her paintings as we receive them.

Due to the divorce of her parents, she has adopted both her mother and her father’s last name. Therefore she has two names: “Liu Cao” and “Zhou Hua”. When we talked about it, she told me to use “Zhou Hua” as her new name.

So there it is: a new woman, new life and a new name.

Zhou Hua, Good Luck!

Lily Pietryka