Elderly art model reveals life for empty nesters in China

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One of the oldest art models in China is getting online buzz after his life story was posted on the Twitter-like social media platform Weibo.

Wang Suzhong, 88, is an “empty nester,” one whose offspring has left home and who generally lives alone. He took on art modeling despite his children's objections. In his eyes, being an art model makes him happy.

His plight generated heated debate on social media, with Wang’s story attracting over 10,000 comments and being shared over 160,000 times.

A user named “Miya” sympathized with Wang, saying that people should respect everyone’s choices in life. The user “the light in the night” thought differently, commenting that Wang’s children should take care of him instead of letting him kill time by being a model.

Before taking on art modeling, Wang worked as a tailor and lived on a meager social welfare income. His new job has generated additional money for him at about 70 to 100 yuan ($11 to $16) a day and allows him to live in a studio of 39 square meters (about 420 square feet) with a television, a cabinet and a single bed.

“I can even support my granddaughter with my income,” he said proudly.

The job not only brings him financial support, but also happiness and satisfaction. Instead, Wang doesn’t like his life during school holidays.

“It is dull and boring,” he told Xinhua. “Either of my friends have left the city or passed away. People who often hung out together and played cards in the past do not get in touch with each other anymore.”

Days without the job are boring for him. Like life for most empty nesters in China, he gets up at 6 a.m., makes breakfast alone and kills the time by watching television. After lunch, he can go to the senior activity center to enjoy free tea and talked with other elderly attendees. Around 6 p.m., he goes back home and prepares dinner.

This Lunar New Year, a time for family reunion, Wang celebrated it almost alone.

For him, sitting naked in front of young students is not embarrassing. Instead, compared with sitting in front of the TV alone at home, being with young people brings him happiness. /Screenshot from video on Weibo

Wang took up the craft when one day, walking around in Sichuan Normal University, he noticed a group of students painting in front of an art model. After being invited by the modeling agency, he was on board.

He enjoys spending time at the university with the students, who often talk with him, buy him lunch and send their portraits to Wang as gifts.

According to a 2015 report published by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, in China, a country where societal norms dictate that adult children live with their parents after marriage, empty nesters account for more than half of those aged over 60, with 10 percent living alone.

Since starting his job in March 2012, Wang enjoys walking on campus every morning. /Screenshot from video on Weibo