Saturday, December 19, 2009

超大的铁箱也是艺术

This post first appeared on ARTivate's blog (www.artivate.blogspot.com) on 16.12.09
Pictures differ for purpose of posting.


最近到了伦敦一游。


闷在新加坡太久会变成井底蛙的,所以决定到国外去看世界。

伦敦有很多世界级的博物馆,展出或收藏物品的量和广度大得让人目不暇给。不管是现代艺术品,古典画作,古董,科学发明,自然科学,历史文物都可以在伦敦的博物馆里找得到。最重要的是,大部分的展览都是免费的,不花钱就可参观。




去伦敦之前,朋友就说在伦敦的博物馆里呆上十天也不一定看的完。当下觉得她也太夸张了。可是当我真正到了那里参观的时候,朋友的话应验了。花了一整个早上,结果只参观完维多利亚与阿尔伯特博物馆(Victoria and Albert Museum)的一楼而已。实在有太多的展出品值得去观赏,去研究了。


出名的博物馆包括国家画作展览馆(National Gallery),泰特古典艺术博物馆(Tate Britain),泰特现代艺术博物馆(Tate Modern),自然史博物馆(Natural History Museum)。其中让我印象与体验最深的,是 Tate Modern 里的其中一件互动艺术品。

这件艺术品从外观看起来真的很不像艺术品。基本上,他就是一个很大很大的货柜箱(以下照片)。当你站在箱子的入口处,可以看见是黑暗的,没有灯,只有少许的光线从外面投射进货柜箱里,内侧的四面墙也是黑的。眼前的画面,就是一个使人觉得有压迫感的大黑洞,等着你进去探险。


和朋友进去的时候,因为不知道里面有些什么,也看不见任何的东西,我们有些许由于,脚步非常缓慢。我甚至觉得有少许的害怕。可是走着走着,我们竟然到了空间的尽头。里面什么都没有。


原来,这个货柜箱就真的是一个空有暗的货柜箱。

我当时第一个反应:这展览品也太笨了吧!为了看设计这艺术品的艺术家怎么把这么笨的东西解释成艺术,我就去看说明的看板(以下照片)。我所看到的说明,出人意表得给了我灵感,启发和难忘的体验。

"How shall I move forward?" you might ask yourself, as you stand at the threshold, confronted by the darkness ahead. The unknown can be terrifying, especially if it is also without light. How you approach it is unique, as your first encounter with anything can only ever be as an individual. Staring ahead into the black void may make you wonder whether to move ahead at all.


'Its fine', you reassure yourself, "what can actually be inside?" How It Is is complete only when you, the viewer, enter. The container focuses you inwards, both physically and psychologically, deeper into the darkness. In choosing how to move ahead- to march in fearlessly, or to kirt along the walls - you create your won journey. But as you bump into others, or mistakenly grab a stranger's shoulder, your trepidation eases and collectively you navigate the void..

说明看板上所说的感觉,行动,思绪我在货柜箱里面都体验到了。顿时间,我对展览品的嘲笑变成了敬佩。这么简单的一件物品/空间,却带出了人内心的复杂情绪和外在行动的可能性。

再说,这些体会不会只停留在货柜箱里面的空间,可以延伸至日常生活。当我们碰到难题的时候,和在走入黑箱那一刻的反应是一样的。当我们面对看不到前景的未来,或算不到后果的抉择,在货柜空间里的反应也会出现。

想到这里,不得不为刚开始的那种无知的判断感到惭愧,也非常庆幸我去看了说明看板。如果没有参考,我可能永远都会是天真的愚人。


后来,我也发现,这个体验只会有一次。之后如果你在尝试进去的时候,你没有办法再找回同样的体验了。你已经熟悉那个空间了。也许人生也是如此吧。生活中的每一个经历,只会有一次。下一次,不管情况多么雷同,也已经不一样了。

最深层的意义,往往来自最简单的东西。

最简单的东西,也往往能拉近艺术与生活的关系。



Labels: , ,

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

美术,从不会完成

This posting first appeared on ARTivate blog (www.artivate.blogspot.com) on 14.12.09
Pictures differ to serve the purpose of the posting

大概年中的时候,达文西展览来到了新加坡。曾经因为《达文西密码》一书对达文西这位名画家产生了好奇,所以和友人参观了这场展览。



许多人都以为达文西只是个画了许多名画的杰出画家。很惭愧的,我也是。可是看完展览之后,我才知道达文西除了是画家,还是雕塑家,数学家,科学家和工程师。他不只画画,还发明了新的油画技术,各种各样实用的原始机械和战争武器。



朋友看完展览之后,称赞达文西:“Da Vinci真的很厉害。他原来会做这么多东西。”是的,大家参观了这个展览都会对他的很多成品叹为观止,尤其因为他生于一个科技完全不发达的年代。可是,鲜为人知,达文西真正令人敬佩的是他的精神。就像很多历史伟人,如俄罗斯现代戏剧大师斯坦尼斯拉夫斯基(Stanislavsky)和德国物理学家爱因斯坦(Einstein)一样,他一生都在观察,研究,探索与实验。如此难得的精神,每次在他画画和发明的过程中都会体现。
 


在画闻名世界的壁画《最后的晚餐》(The Last Supper)时,达文西为了可以一边画,一边修改这幅壁画,而发明了全新的壁画技术。不只如此,为了能让壁画里的人物能看起来栩栩如生,他花了两年的时间观察生活中人们的身体语言。在画壁画的过程中,他可以一天内不停地画,也可以花好几天不动笔只看着他的画,一直盘算,计划如何继续画。达文西的创作精神真的让我十分敬佩。


到了展览厅的最后,有一个看板汇集了达文西一生所说过的一些名言。其中有一句非常精简和准确,让大家透视了他聪明的脑袋。

"Art is never completed, only abandoned." (美术从不会完成,只会被遗弃)

这句话概述了达文西一生的创作理念与精神,相信也能带给很多人启发和灵感。

我想,表演艺术也是一样吧。不会完成,只会被遗弃。

Labels:

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

House of Sin (R18)

March is an exciting month as there are a few shows to look out for.

Being a part of Drama Box, I would have to advertise for them instead of other companies such as The Finger Players and The Theatre Practice.

They wouldnt need me to advertise for them anyway. Haha

'House of Sin' is a new original piece created by Li Xie (Virginalogue, Trash, Shithole), regarded as one of the best directors and playwrights in the Chinese theatre scene.

Besides, the cast consist of a galaxy of theatre stars. And here goes: (in no particular order)

Tay Kong Hui (Shithole, Trash, Ignorland of its Name, Cloud Nine, Full Frontal-Little White Sailing Boat) Goh Guat Kian (Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, First Family, Nothing, Mama Looking For Her Cat, If There're Seasons, Boner) Julius Foo (First Family, Momo) Doreen Toh (0501, Catpeople, Trick or Threat) Peter Sau (A Language of Their Own, Trash, TKK, A Stranger At Home) and Rei Poh (Trick or Threat, Ignorland of its Name)

And their humble sound operator: Me.

Its a very exciting show. Must watch. (If you are over 18 of course)

Haha

Labels:

Monday, March 05, 2007

Yes Sir!

Oh NO! I am starting to update less and less on this blog.....

Lacking inspiration lah...... Doing all the mundane stuff now..... Not to mention that I have to struggle with dropping viewership of my blog.... I think when less people are reading your blog, you tend to not bother with coming up with brilliant posts

Yes, everyone. The golden age of this blog is possibly over..... But dont worry. I am sure a second wave will hit the blog soon enough.....

Started filming last Sat. Was quite tiring because only two people on production and the two of us have to handle everything by ourselves.....Travelled three or four places two times.

How I miss DaeGekleng, Weiliang and Jared..... At least they were there to help out the last time round.....

But I didnt have any problems with filming because I think the two kids of choice was quite pro. After a few rounds of rehearsing and cutting, they only got better and better.....

The admirable part of them was that they were young and still manage to grasp what I wanted..... Not to mention I was good with direction. Haha

Hopefully my next stage of filming, which is also the main one with the big kids will be as smooth, if not better....

Yes Sir! Man-U won the clash with Liverpool. Go eat deflated footballs you inferior liverpoolers.

Haha but I had to admit that Man-U was damn lucky to have sneaked a goal in in all that confusion.....

And no lah, Liverpool was not really inferior. In fact, they dominated large periods of the match.

Yes sir!

I found out yesterday that I was getting ready to withdraw my troops..... But abit of a pity to withdraw within the year....

Hope I can do it on scheduled timing next year.... Life is going to be more mundane without war and love....

And hope I will be more than ready by then.

2008.

The year to watch out for.

The year where war and love will be raging full-fledged.

Beijing, here we come

Labels: