Spring at the Hour of the Goat

Cover image from xhs @ Ruoshui Sanqian

An Jinnian x Ye Qingjing

Once, An Jinnian thought his world was only black and white.

A painter burdened by a painful past, he was like a lonely island, curled up in a corner of Jiangzhou's old town. With his brush, he built a cold barrier and shut out every warmth from the outside world. Then, one afternoon during the hour of the Goat, sunlight streamed through the studio windows, reaching his long-sealed heart, and illuminating someone named Ye Qingjing.

Ye Qingjing was a volunteer at the community center. His world was full of the warmth and bustle of everyday life.

With the warmth of a bowl of hot soup, he melted the frost in An Jinnian's eyes. With an exhibition titled "Taking Root and Sprouting," he helped two lonely souls find support in each other amid the noisy world. When the brush touched the warmth of life, and their silent pasts were gently told, they realized that the most moving art was not the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas on a canvas, but the way ordinary people look after each other through life's ups and downs.

This is a story of redemption.

From the lively streets of Jiangzhou's community to the sea breeze and warm sunshine of a southern town, An Jinnian and Ye Qingjing carry their promise of a home with them, bringing the warmth of the exhibition to even farther places. They record every warm moment with their brushes, and use love to heal the scars deep in each other's souls.

Spring comes in the hour of the Goat, and all things hold promise.

This is not only a parable about art and life, but also an ode to everyone seeking hope in difficult times. May everyone who holds on through the cold winter find their own ray of light, their own breeze, and someone willing to journey with them into the spring sunshine.

Theme: May you all be happy every day, little darlings