Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rising popularity and pricing of birch sap, highlighting its marketing as a health drink with exaggerated benefits, while also critiquing the consumer behavior surrounding it [5][14][21]. Group 1: Product Overview - Birch sap is marketed as a premium health drink, often priced significantly higher than other beverages, with claims of being a "plant gold" and a "liquid cordyceps" [5][7]. - The harvesting process is heavily emphasized, with claims that it can only be collected every three years and only from specific trees, which adds to its allure [7][14]. Group 2: Consumer Behavior - Consumers, particularly middle-aged men, are drawn to birch sap for its perceived health benefits and the experience of drinking it, likening it to a connection with nature [21][22]. - The article suggests that the appeal of birch sap is more about the ritual and experience rather than its actual nutritional value, which is often overstated [16][19]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The birch sap market is characterized by high sales volumes on e-commerce platforms, indicating strong consumer demand despite the questionable health claims [14]. - There is a critique of the authenticity of the product, with some sellers allegedly using tree bark and sugar to create a similar product, raising concerns about quality and transparency [18][19].

Core Viewpoint - The exhibition "Beyond: Infinite Possibilities of Avant-Garde Art" showcases 18 Japanese avant-garde artists, marking the opening of the 2025 Yangyun Art Season, emphasizing the dialogue between contemporary art and Eastern aesthetics [1][3]. Group 1: Exhibition Overview - The exhibition features key figures from the Japanese Concrete Art movement, aiming to bridge Eastern and Western avant-garde art [1][3]. - The Concrete Art movement, established in Japan, sought to transcend the boundaries of abstract art, influencing contemporary art significantly despite the dissolution of the Concrete Art Association in 1972 [3]. Group 2: Artistic Themes and Influences - Japanese artists have creatively transformed Western artistic ideas while reflecting on their local culture and history, exploring more experimental and free forms of creation [5]. - The Mono-ha movement, represented by Lee Ufan, emphasizes the relationship between materials and their environment, merging Western philosophical thoughts with traditional Japanese views on nature [7]. - The first generation of non-form artists, influenced by abstract expressionism and post-abstract expressionism, focuses on the exploration of abstract forms and spatial relationships [7][8]. Group 3: Upcoming Exhibitions and Themes - The "Cloud Hidden: Contemporary Awakening of Family Beauty" exhibition, curated by Su Mang, serves as the prologue to the 2025 Yangyun Art Season, exploring Eastern aesthetics through various artistic expressions [12][13]. - The "Slower" segment features the solo exhibition of Canadian ink artist Xia Huiwen, emphasizing a "slow philosophy" through contemporary ink art [17]. - The "Step Forward: Inner Reflection and Journey of Landscape" exhibition will showcase new works by Liu Jiutong, aiming to create a dialogue between traditional and modern art [19].