STORY: Chinese artist uses outsider art to heal people with mental disorders
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: June 16, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:00
LOCATION: NANJING, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
SHOTLIST:
1. various of painting processes
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): GUO HAIPING, Founder of Nanjing Outsider Art Studio
3. various of Xu Jian taking photos of his mother
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): XU JIAN's mother, Parent of Nanjing Outsider Art Studio participants
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): GUO HAIPING, Founder of Nanjing Outsider Art Studio
6. various of participants at Nanjing Outsider Art Studio

STORYLINE:

With the support of local governments, Chinese artist Guo Haiping established Nanjing Outsider Art Studio in 2014 in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province.

Guo has committed to exploring the artistic potential of all kinds of people with mental disorders and of those recovering from mental disorders, providing all-round support, and helping eliminate public prejudice and discrimination.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): GUO HAIPING, Founder of Nanjing Outsider Art Studio
"At the beginning, there was too much prejudice, misunderstanding and discrimination against this group. However, I believe that such prejudice, misunderstanding and discrimination will lead to more and more tension within each of us and between different groups of people. Then I suddenly found that outsider art can help these people with mental disorders turn their weaknesses into strengths. In the past, we always saw their weaknesses and shortcomings, but I found that their weaknesses and shortcomings have been transformed into an irreplaceable advantage through outsider art, which is open and free expression."

Outsider art is a kind of art created by self-taught individuals without training in the traditional arts.

Over the past 10 years, the studio has helped more than 200 people with mental disabilities realize their personal and social value through outsider art.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese) XU JIAN's mother, Parent of Nanjing Outsider Art Studio participant
"Since Xu Jian came to the studio, He has made great progress in language. Because he stays with them (outsider artists), he has the opportunity to communicate with them. The things he paints now are colorful, probably because he thinks more, and he expresses it in his paintings."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): GUO HAIPING, Founder of Nanjing Outsider Art Studio
"In this decade, everyone has undergone a great change. Their hearts were closed before. Why? They did not trust others, did not want to and did not dare to open their hearts. They thought that once they opened hearts, they would have conflicts. When they came to the art studio, they began to open their hearts. Every life is different, every life needs the soil, so the meaning of our studio is to give them such soil, we learn to accept, respect, understand, and support their growth. Then they will become more and more perfect. When they feel the joy of the growth, they are friendly with the outside world. And this process is also a very good driving force to promote the growth of the outside world and change our environment."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nanjing, China.
(XHTV)