2008年5月于广州
　　这本画集，是2000年至2008年，我在中央美术学院做学生和回广州美术学院做教师期间，与我的先生或与我的晚辈一起，年年行走江湖，走遍中国西南、西北的写生集。
　　写生方法太古老，对着照片没感觉。但十年前的那次机缘，让我在半信半疑的路上，跟着先生，带着学生，边画边想，一路过来。
　　山未穷，水未尽，不但有滋有味，还有了些许关于人生和艺术的心得。
　　人生的意义，就在于把握大的规律，学会如何处理好主客观关系。绘画更是如此。
　　写生是一种精神行动，不知山高沟深，气指心使，随心意和追求行所当行，止于不可止。
　　那些自然而混浊的风景、人事和历史遗存，真是山重水复，莽莽苍苍，沉默而真实，辉煌而深沉，默默地述说着不尽的意蕴，让我不断品悟自然、历史与人生之谜，获得艺术的启示。每次翻阅这些作品，那些看似平常的伫立瞬间，自然、人、历史总是混沌地交织着，重重叠叠，无穷无尽。这种不可思议、神秘而苦涩的回味，总是持续、强烈地袭来，让我回味不已，不断产生新的艺术欲求。正因为有了这种回味不已和意犹未尽，就有了不断继续出发去寻找和发现的冲动。
　　继续出发是为了获得更深层次的回味，而回味时便总是在想、在画。我只是透过实地写生这种方式和艺术语言来思索、体现和证实我的“在场”的精神姿态，或者说，用这一过程来实现自己对艺术的选择与实践。
　　每次背上沉甸甸的行装，出发于千里之外，在自然、历史和现实的原生地细细品味、细细找寻，那些曾经发生过的自然的、人的历史中的大震荡、大风景，那种试着复原当时情状的感受，包括诗的意蕴，不就是我们朝思暮想、苦苦思求的艺术的本质吗?
　　整理着我的行囊，我将再次出发……
　　Postscript
　　Lei Xiaozhou
　　Guangzhou, May 2008
　　This photo album is a collection of the paintings done during my annual trips to southwestern and northwestern China since the period between 2000 and 2008 when I was studying at Central Academy of Fine Art and when I am teaching at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.
　　Painting a still life seems a less interesting job. However, what happened eight years ago kept me learning and teaching all along though I was not quite convinced about this career.
　　Mountains and rivers, with their endless food for thought and great tastes, provide us with lots of enlightenment about life and art.
　　The true meaning of life lie in the a thorough grasp of the general rule to deal properly with the subjective and objective relation, so does the meaning of painting to achieve a harmonious whole.
　　Drawing from life belongs to a kind of spiritual behavior, which is more involved in imagination and perseverance in one's practice for seeking the true meaning of art.
　　With their silent truth and profound significance, the landscapes, customs and historical heritages are crystallized cultures and history objectified, the inner meaning of which can only grasped by our frequent pondering them over.  And probing the mystery of nature, history and life is always thought-provoking to me. Glancing over pictures of them reminds me of the intertwined relation among the nature, human being and history, which is overlapping and ever-lasting, leaving me a lingering bitter and astringent aftertaste with mystery. And it is this constant and strong aftertaste that has served as an impetus for my new journey. (and motivated my desire for new art on a new journey.
　　Setting out for a new journey, in return, is for more food for thought, which has kept my desire for drawing. Actually, by the art language of painting from nature, I have tried to convey what I feel while indicating my presence on the site. In other word, I having been following art as a profession to confirm my loyalty to art.
　　Isn't it the essence of art I have been pining for while traveling far and wide with heavy backpack to ponder over the upheavals of nature and human history, to leave no stone unturned in search for unique splendors and to experience the way a painter feels when imagining the restoration of cultural relics and historical fragments?
　　With this comprehension and mentality, I am ready to set off for another journey.