Do you like modern art or traditional art?

Oh, I have to say, I’m not an art person, so I really have very little knowledge about this subject, but from what I know, for instance in China, traditional art is like watercolor painting that usually depicts trees, mountains, clouds, and also, horses, which symbolize success, so you know, I do like it but I wouldn’t go out and buy one. Also, calligraphy is a traditional art, where the object of the art is to make the characters as beautiful but as stylish as possible, I think. I did have a calligraphy class once and I did like it, but it was quite time-consuming, though I do like the art form.

For modern art though, sometimes I have no idea what the point is, or the purpose, especially some pictures that I’ve seen from, for example, the Tate gallery in London. Some of the stuff is just bizarre, and doesn’t even appear to be art. So from what I know, I don’t like modern art.

• art person 喜爱艺术的人
• watercolor painting 水彩画
• depicts 展现；描画
• symbolize 象征
• calligraphy 书法
• characters 汉字
• stylish 雅致的
• time-consuming 耗时的
• art form 艺术形式
• bizarre 怪诞的；古怪的

Do you want to be an artist?

There was a brief period of time in my childhood when I enjoyed drawing the human face but that quickly came to an end with the ever-increasing load of Chinese and math homework that I had to do.

These days, I adore reading more than anything else, so no, I’m not inclined to become an artist, but who knows, maybe one day I’ll write a book.

• quickly came to an end 很快结束了
• ever-increasing 越来越多的
• adore 很喜欢
• inclined to 容易；倾向于

Do you like visiting art galleries?

Again, no, I don’t. I might have a look around if I happen to bump into one. I mean, visiting art exhibitions and appreciating art pieces is simply not something I’m into.

• bump into 遇见；撞上
• appreciate 欣赏

Do you like art?

Half and half I suppose. I mean, art is a wide subject, like writing is an art, music is an art, and for that matter even dancing is an art. But if you mean things like painting or sculpting, well, when encountering an interesting piece of art, for instance, a painting, I might go online and find out more information about its origin, the background of the artist and the painting, and what it’s trying to convey, but generally, art is not something that I’d spend much time on unless you include books, which I also consider a type of art if it’s a novel.

• a piece of art 一件艺术品
• sculpting 雕塑
• encounter 偶遇
• origin 来源
• background 背景
• convey 传达
• a novel 一部小说