"Artists from all walks of society had almost certainly acknowledged this matter ten years ago, but now hearing you confess it personally still makes one's heart race. This truly is a historic moment."
The journalist's face was full of the excitement and honor of witnessing and personally participating in such a historic event.
Whether Cao Xuan is a greater painter than Dali is unknown.
But he is certain.
The significance of Mr. Cao formally stepping down is no less impactful in society than the shocking news when Dali announced to the Spanish media in 1974 that he would refrain from artistic creation due to health reasons.
An artist announcing their retirement and sealing their brush has always been a significant event.
This means that his artistic career has come to an end, and there will be no new works produced.
From this point onward.
Cao Xuan will merely be a living cultural symbol, rather than a great painter whose brush is akin to a US Federal Reserve printing press.
