頭發繡出的神奇

《蒙娜麗莎》的奇遇

那一年，中國文化周在荷蘭首都阿姆斯特丹舉行，其中展覽區內陳列了許多藝術精品。前來參觀的荷蘭觀眾絡繹不絕，常常在一幅蒙娜麗莎的像前駐足留連，甚至擠到像前仔仔細細看個分明。可愛的荷蘭人看后還向中方的工作人員發問：“蒙娜麗莎像這么逼真，既不像是畫的，又不像是絲織的，那是怎么搞的呀？”中方工作人員用手指著自己的頭發，笑著說：“這是發繡，用頭發繡出來的。”荷蘭人大為驚訝，聳聳肩，攤著手：“頭發變的藝術品？太神奇了！”

展出的最后一天，兩位荷蘭的金發美女來到蒙娜麗莎發繡像前，興奮地比比劃劃，用不大熟練的中國話對工作人員說：“盼能同意我倆在蒙娜麗莎發繡像前拍照留念，因為這幅像里有我倆的頭發。”中方工作人員不知緣由，莫名驚異，但還是彬彬有禮地以笑作答。兩位金發美女急著解釋：“我倆曾在溫州大學工作過，知道這幅發繡來自溫州發繡研究所。”中方工作人員見她倆說得有根有梢，大有他鄉遇故知之感，笑容里洋溢著友好的情誼，同意了她們的要求。

這批藝術展品結束荷蘭之行后，又輾轉到美國紐約的聯合國總部展覽。來自不同國家的不同膚色的聯合國工作人員，嗟嘆東方藝術品的精彩奇妙，紛紛贊之以“東方瑰寶”。在場的中國外交部禮賓司司長正好站在蒙娜麗莎發繡像前，耳聞外國朋友的贊語：“這幅發繡像真好，簡直同盧浮宮的油畫一樣！”不由得暗自贊嘆：“浙江這位發繡大師真是絕藝！”回國后還向浙江詢問溫州發繡藝術研究所和所長孟永國。

這位以蒙娜麗莎發繡像贏得國際聲譽的發繡大師是誰呢？

發繡，古籍曾有零星記載，可見這是一門古老的藝術，但流傳至今，浙江省僅溫州發繡藝術研究所一家，全國也屬罕見。這幅在歐美展覽大獲贊譽的蒙娜麗莎發繡像出自溫州發繡研究所藝術大師孟永國之手。

孟永國年輕時就讀于溫州師范學院美術教學專業，畢業后留在母校宣傳部工作。孟家出了個大學老師，父母親都笑得合不攏嘴。可孟永國很快就發現搞宣傳、寫美術字這些常態性的工作，可能荒蕪掉自己美術創作的園地。一顆不安于庸常的心，驅使孟永國投身于剛剛成立的發繡研究所。他沒有把工作變動告訴父母親和妻子，擔心他們數落自己不安耽，擔心一個大男人像大姑娘那樣坐著刺繡被譏笑。于是暗暗調動工作的天機一點也沒有泄露。他想搞出名堂之后再告知，讓他們在驚喜中認可。后來他繡出成名作《愛因斯坦》，把在戰亂中逃難的愛因斯坦那驚恐的眼神刻畫得惟妙惟肖，把無心梳理的蓬亂的頭發表現得逼真細膩，深得藝術界人士的贊揚。雖然聲譽鵲起，但他還覺得將職業變動告訴家人不到火候。即使后來搞出了在國外展出載譽而歸的《蒙娜麗莎》，仍然對家人三緘其口。

《蒙娜麗莎》的成功還有一段佳話。也許是職業愛好使然，孟永國對女性的長發特別注目。一天，他在溫州大學校園里邂逅兩位長發飄逸的西方女性，不由得止步打量起來：一位的長發金黃，像金色的瀑布那樣燦然；另一位發呈棕色，也透出耀眼色調。又長又美的秀發飄進他的藝術思維里，他想象著這些美發像云朵一樣幻化成新的作品。

原來，溫州大學與荷蘭的阿姆斯特丹大學結成友好大學，經常互派教師到對方大學定期任教。這兩位正是阿姆斯特丹大學的青年女教師，在溫州大學任教期滿后就回荷蘭去了。失之交臂，令孟永國扼腕嘆息。

然而，有心人總能抓住機遇。溫州大學隨后也選派了兩位青年教師，要去荷蘭阿姆斯特丹大學任教。孟永國找到這兩位青年教師，言之鑿鑿地說：“我想請你們幫個忙，請你們到荷蘭后轉告那兩位從溫州大學回去的女教師，說我希望她們的長發能用來創作發繡人像，變成新的藝術生命。”這兩位青年教師將孟永國的話原原本本地帶給那兩位荷蘭女教師。誰知她倆聽后臉蛋笑成一朵花，爽然回答：“我們的頭發能給中國的藝術大師繡人像，高興還來不及哪！”她們在兩位溫州大學青年教師回國前齊刷刷地剪下自己美麗的長發，包裝后請他們帶去，并說：“中國藝術大師用我們的頭發做成了什么人像，可以告訴我們嗎？”

孟永國接到來自荷蘭的秀發，頓時激動得雙腳就像踩在金色的云朵上，飄飄欲飛。這一頭發奇緣，一直維系著他的藝術構想。一天，他翻看《盧浮宮畫集》，著名的蒙娜麗莎油畫頓時照亮了他的創作構思。對，就做蒙娜麗莎發繡像，用荷蘭女教師的長發來做，堪稱天造地設。這一回做發繡與以往有著不同的感覺，繡著繡著就感覺到蒙娜麗莎和荷蘭女教師合二為一了。感覺是奇妙的，但做成之后卻覺得效果不佳，單一的金黃色調使蒙娜麗莎失去豐富性和神秘性。經過分析和思考，孟永國認定用荷蘭女教師的頭發繡蒙娜麗莎的臉和肌膚，用中國人的黑發繡蒙娜麗莎的服飾，這樣才能到達佳境。可手頭又沒有理想的中國女性的長發真急人呀。正在這時，一位溫州大學音樂系的女學生披著齊腰的長發，來到發繡研究所一樓觀看發繡人像。孟永國見了，不禁青睞起她的長發，在交談時流露出想用她的長發來繡蒙娜麗莎之意。女學生一聽，嘻笑著回應：“溫州大學正在舉行歌唱比賽，我已進入決賽圈，如果我得了第一名，就把長發剪下來送你。”孟永國真誠地說：“我祝你得第一名，祝你有好運氣也等于祝我自己有好運氣。”果然，這位女學生在決賽中得了第一名，孟永國也如愿以償地得到了她那烏黑的長發。

孟永國將荷蘭女教師的金發和中國女大學生的長發結合運用，重新修改，蒙娜麗莎發繡像終于取得了極大的成功。

“很好”“很喜歡”及其他

2002年6月，孟永國突然接到國家外交部禮賓司打來的電話，要求繡一幅俄羅斯前總統葉利欽發繡像，作為國禮。“一定完成任務，讓外交部滿意！”作為研究所所長的孟永國，對著話筒興奮地叫起來。

發繡作品成為外交部的國禮，這讓孟永國就像喝了熱酒，臉孔透紅，血液沸騰，接完電話后樂得就像孩子似的。平靜下來之后，他頓時感到肩上有一股無形的壓力。這是代表國家檔次的禮物，非得搞出高水平不可！走，馬上去新華書店找葉利欽像。

正好新華書店里有一本寫葉利欽的傳記，打開一看，里面有葉利欽的像，孟永國隨手買下。然后又問營業員，還有葉利欽的書嗎？營業員在電腦里一搜索，又找出兩本。統統買下。出了書店，他一邊走一邊翻，凝神看圖像，差點碰到了行人。

次日正好是休息天，孟永國在家里反復看葉利欽像，又看葉利欽傳記，了解他的精神、個性和習慣。母親見兒子大門不出，埋頭看書，到了吃中飯時間仍然不見動靜，不禁心生好奇，走過去問道：“你在學校里看書看不夠，回到家里還把書當飯吃呀？”孟永國還沉浸在創作的劇烈思索中，就脫口而出：“媽，外交部下來的發繡任務，我一定要完成得漂漂亮亮的。”母親聽不明白，愕然地睜大眼睛問：“你在大學里當老師，跟發繡有什么關系？跟外交部又有什么關系？”這時，孟永國猛醒過來，就原原本本地將工作情況告訴母親，然后說：“媽，我開始沒有將從事發繡藝術的情況告訴你們，是怕你們不理解，犯嘀咕，現在我大大方方地告訴你們，我的發繡作品獲了不少獎，現在連外交部都要我的發繡人像作國禮！”這時，父親聞聲來了，妻子兒子也都來了，沒有責備，沒有埋怨，有的是行行出狀元的贊許，有的是家庭集體的榮譽感。

孟永國花了兩三個月時間，繡出了葉利欽在演講的半身像。他左看右看不滿意，原因是演講時張著嘴，有損整個畫面。于是，他決定重新設計。他千方百計找來一張葉利欽微笑的圖片，開始重繡。又繡了兩個多月，終于大功告成。他請發繡研究所的同仁來評析，請外事部門的領導來鑒賞，各方人士統統稱好。

正在這時，應中國國家主席的邀請，葉利欽來到大連棒槌島休假。在外交部的安排下，溫州方面迅速派了兩人將葉利欽發繡像送到棒槌島度假區。外交部以中華人民共和國主席的名義將發繡像贈送給葉利欽。葉利欽仔細端詳后，手捧自己的發繡像，開懷地笑起來，并與夫人一起與兩位溫州來的使者合影留念。當溫州使者拿出葉利欽發繡像的照片時，葉利欽滿臉含笑地在照片底部親筆寫下俄文“很好”，下署自己的親筆簽名，讓溫州發繡藝術研究所保存。

葉利欽發繡像“很好”，而后來巴金發繡像則又有“很喜歡”一說。

那是著名作家巴金100歲誕辰的2005年，浙江省作家協會思量著給巴老贈送賀禮。作家們不約而同地想到孟永國的發繡，于是有位作家朋友來找到孟永國，說：“今年是巴金100歲，我思來想去，總覺得巴金發繡像是最好的賀禮。”孟永國一聽就笑出聲來，回答說：“你跟我想到一起了。告訴你吧，我少年時代，就用大人給的壓歲錢買來巴金的《家》，沒日沒夜地看，還邊看邊在書上寫下感悟。從那時開始，巴老就是我的偶像。后來我又湊錢買了《春》和《秋》，一有空就看，看完了還珍藏起來。”這位作家朋友輕輕擊掌，暢笑著說：“你還是巴金的粉絲哩。”孟永國忙說：“那真是一拍即合，我馬上就著手搜集巴老的照片。”作家朋友隨即提供了巴金女兒李小林和生活秘書陸正偉的電話。

又是一拍即合。巴金女兒李小林在和孟永國通電話時說：“我要把我的頭發剪下來寄給你，繡到我爸的發繡像里，發繡像既有廣大讀者對我爸的喜愛，有你這位藝術大師對我爸的深情，更有著我爸血脈的頭發體現了兒女和孫輩對他的愛。”孟永國隨即回答：“我一定將你的青絲繡進巴老發繡像里，因為意蘊太深遠了。”通話后沒幾天，孟永國就收到李小林寄來的頭發，還有陸正偉寄來的巴老的照片。

一張張巴老的照片攤在桌面上，孟永國仔細看，對比著看。他想，巴老是文學大師，是思想家，是“說真話”的大寫的人，發繡像應該體現這些元素，為此要找到更理想的照片。終于，他在網上找到一張巴金微仰著頭而笑容和藹可親的半側面的照片，眼睛為之一亮，精神為之一振。對，就應該是這樣的圖像。

為了深刻理解巴老的精神與人格，孟永國請那位作家朋友來講巴老的故事，又到新華書店買來有關巴老的著作。沉湎在構思中的他突然之間腦子里靈光一閃：巴金發繡像的背景應該是長方形的書，要用特殊的針法來繡……

這幅孟永國用內心情愫繡成的巴金發繡像受到各界人士的贊賞，并由孟永國和茅盾文學獎得主王旭烽專程送到上海市作家協會。巴金女兒李小林捧著父親的發繡像再三端詳，脫口而出贊道：“繡得實在太好了！我很喜歡，我爸一定很喜歡！由于眾所周知的原因，我不能將浙江朋友領進父親的病房，但我一定會把發繡像交給我爸，我爸一定會很喜歡！”說完，李小林久久地握著孟永國的手，再三說：“你的手真巧，你的心真好！”孟永國忙說：“我是巴老的忠實讀者！”合影留念之后，李小林對孟永國說：“從現在開始，我是你的發繡像的忠實觀眾！”

不久前，孟永國有感于溫家寶總理經常風塵仆仆地深入災區，深入民眾，就深情地繡了一幅溫家寶發繡像。這幅蘊含著溫家寶精、氣、神的發繡像，在北京舉辦的全國工藝美術展上一亮相就大放異彩，眾望所歸地獲得了“山花獎”金獎。頒獎時，中國文聯副主席、中國民協主席馮驥才握著孟永國的手說：“你把溫家寶發繡像拍成照片，寄給我，我去呈給溫總理。”孟永國點頭說好。獲獎作品從北京運回杭州后，又參加省工藝美術展，在浙江展覽館展出。有位省領導在看展覽時，很快被溫家寶發繡像吸引住了。他細看了一會，雙手比劃著對有關負責人說：“這幅溫家寶發繡像相當好，省委省政府要收為禮品。”

堪稱孑遺的非物質文化遺產發繡及其研究所所長、工藝大師孟永國，無疑會在國內外文化交流中放出新的光華。

Hair Embroidery Creates Wonder Portraits

By Zhao Zheng

Meng Yongguoo decided to keep his parents and wife in the dark about his new job as a hair embroidery artist at the Wenzhou Hair Embroidery Institute， the only one institute of its kind in Zhejiang， a coastal province in eastern China.

Before his transfer， he was a young artist with the publicity department of Wenzhou Normal College， his alma mater where he had spent four years studying art. His parents were happy that the son now had a steady and respectful college job. The young artist wanted to transfer because he had found the old job tedious， routine， and unrewarding. He wanted challenge and excitement.

Hair embroidery is an ancient art of China. Artists of this unique art are rare in China， but Zhejiang， a coastal province in eastern China， has one hair embroidery institute in Wenzhou， a port city in southern part of the province.

Meng did not have much difficulty keeping his parents and wife in the dark about his new job， for the institute is a unit of Wenzhou University and is situated on its campus. The only way to convince them， he believed， was to establish himself as a successful artist of hair embroidery. After all， doing embroidery as a full time job was something traditionally assigned to women. He soon mastered the unique art. He made his reputation with a hair embroidery masterpiece of Einstein. His family was in the dark about his newly acquired reputation. He decided it was not yet time.

Then he wanted to reproduce Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa in a hair embroidery masterpiece. It was an exciting challenge and he had a good amount of excellent hair in his possession. One day he spotted on the campus two western female teachers， one with blond hair and the other brown hair， all long enough to touch the shoulders. Meng imagined how he could make very good embroideries with the hair. He made further inquiry about the two western teachers. A few days later， he learned they were from the Netherlands and they were in Wenzhou University in a teacher-exchange program. But to his regret， the two had already completed their work in Wenzhou and had just returned home. However， he learned that two teachers of Wenzhou University would soon leave for the Netherlands on the same exchange program. He asked the two if they would do him a favor and ask the two Dutch women to contribute their hair for a hair embroidery masterpiece so that the long hair could acquire an artistic life. The two Dutch women most gladly obliged Meng with his request. The blond and brown hair reached him.

He made the reproduction， but the result was not as excellent as expected. He studied the portrait and decided he needed black hair to make the black dress. As if by luck， he ran into a girl student of music department who came to see embroidery pieces on display at the first floor of his institute. The girl had beautiful long hair hanging down the back. Meng chatted with her and then asked if she would donate some of her hair for Mona Lisa he was going to reproduce. The girl said she was in the final of a singing competition of the university and she would be most willing to donate her hair if she won the championship. She won and she donated her hair. And Meng created a masterpiece.

The reproduction was later sent to Amsterdam with a fleet of other Chinese artworks to display during a Chinese cultural event in the capital of the Netherlands. The two Dutch teachers who came to see the display recognized their own hair in the picture and wanted to pose in front of the embroidery， claiming their hair was in the masterpiece. None believed their claim until they explained the embroidery piece came from Wenzhou University where they had taught and how the artist there had acquired their hair. After the show at Amsterdam， all the artworks were sent to the UN headquarters in New York for an exhibition. Chinese diplomats there remembered Meng the hair embroidery artist from Wenzhou.

That is how Meng unexpectedly received a telephone call from the Foreign Ministry one June day in 2002. By that time， Meng had kept his family in the dark about his embroidery reputation for a few years. The Foreign Ministry asked if Meng would make a hair embroidery portrait of Russian President Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin. Meng said yes and took up the assignment.

He hurried to the local Xinhua Bookstore and bought three books on the Russian President. The next day happened to be the weekend. He stayed at home reading and studying the photos in the book. At lunch time， his mother wondered why he shut himself up in the study. “You read books all the time in college and reading will not fill your stomach，” his mother chided him. He blurted， “Mom， I swear to do a good job of the hair embroidery assignment from the Foreign Ministry.” His mother was puzzled by his son’s excitement and mentioning of hair embroidery and the Foreign Ministry. Now it was time to let his secret all out. He explained what he had accomplished as a hair embroidery artist over the past years and recounted the awards he had received. “Now， the Foreign Ministry wants my artwork as a state gift!” he proudly announced. The father came in， and his wife and son came in. They did not complain. They were all proud and enjoyed the moment together.

In two months Meng Yongguoo completed a portrait， but it failed to satisfy his aesthetics. Then he spent another two months. The second portrait satisfied him. He asked his colleagues and leaders from the city’s foreign affair office to look at his work. Everyone said it was great.

It was presented to the Russian President himself when he came to vacation in Dalian at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao. President Yeltsin was pleased by the gift.

Meng Yongguoo also made a hair-embroidered portrait of Ba Jin (1904-2005)， which was presented to the prominent writer on his 100th anniversary at his ward. In 2008， Meng made another embroidered portrait of Premier Wen Jiabao. The embroidered masterpiece won a gold medal in a national crafts exhibition in Beijing. It is now in the collection of Zhejiang Provincial Government. □