今年，是彦涵先生诞辰一百周年纪念的日子。记得参加先生安葬仪式的那年，仿佛就在不久前似的。这回，李军（彦涵先生儿媳）打来电话，让我多少还要再写几句为了这个“百年的纪念”，我不“打磕奔儿”地答应了。以往凡彦涵先生的事，总是李军张罗，通知到我帮忙的时候，我必响应。
去年，李军请我给东海少儿版画画册写个序，那时正值彦涵先生老家的事，又和版画有关，写，不用说！回想起三十一年前的1985年，我们十位前美院毕业的老同学办了个《半截子美展》，座谈会请了彦涵和郁风几位先生。那天，他们说了我们从未听说过的“肺腑之言”，总的印象是说了艺术的本质和怎样做艺术，并激励我们勤力创作，以弥补荒唐度过的十年时光。
如今，还记得的是他的这一段话：“画画的人天天翻找‘新闻头条’，围绕着‘重大题材’创作，结果就像北京的二十万人的大，不走长安街，就走烟袋斜街，在一块儿踩脚面。这种创作，一千个人一个样，一万个人还是一个样，没有独创，有‘百花齐放’怎么谈文化艺术繁荣呢？”想想，比那时早些时全国美展征稿能同时收到七十几幅《你办事我放心》，正是针砭到的大病。
在彦涵先生墓碑背面的德国诗人歌德的一句话：“伟大的艺术是在限制中表达自由。”这句话，用来概括Mr. Hyan's life, is as fitting as it gets. He was an eternal warrior in the field of art.
As I look back on my journey with Mr. Hyan, I am reminded of the countless times he inspired me to push beyond my limits and strive for excellence. His unwavering dedication to his craft and his unrelenting passion for creating meaningful art left an indelible mark on my heart.
In 2000, I visited Mr. Hyan at his home in Beijing's Ruogong Valley, where we talked about the importance of staying true to one's artistic vision and never compromising on quality. He shared with me his own experiences as a young artist struggling to make a name for himself during the tumultuous years of China's revolution.
His words echoed through me like a battle cry: "Art must be created with conviction and purpose; it must reflect the soul of humanity." These were not just empty words - they were a call to action that resonated deeply within me.
As I reflect on our conversations over the years, I am reminded of how Mr. Hyan always encouraged us to explore new ideas and techniques without losing sight of our core values as artists. He believed that true innovation comes from embracing constraints rather than shying away from them.
In 1993, when Li Jun (Mr. Hyan's daughter-in-law) asked me to contribute an essay for an upcoming exhibition celebrating Mr. Hyan's life work, I knew immediately what had to be said: "He stood tall amidst raging winds - a testament to his unwavering spirit."
That essay became part of my tribute piece titled "He in the Wind" - A Eulogy for My Teacher & Friend Yehan Hyunhak & Our Journey Through Art
And so here we are today, gathered together once again in this virtual space dedicated entirely to celebrating the legacy and impact that one man has had on countless lives around him through art.
The memories come flooding back like waves crashing against shores long forgotten:
The time he taught us about perseverance during those dark days when war raged outside.
The way he inspired us all by standing firm against injustice even when it meant facing ridicule or ostracism.
His unwavering commitment towards preserving traditional Chinese culture while also embracing modernity with open arms.
And most importantly – how he made each one among us believe that we could achieve anything if only we dared dream big enough!
Now more than ever before do these stories resonate so poignantly because they speak directly into our hearts reminding us all what truly matters most: love! For family! For country!