“角落”其實(shí)是一個(gè)文化地理的概念,主要指遠(yuǎn)離文化、經(jīng)濟(jì)中心的那些偏僻、落后的地方和社區(qū)。上個(gè)世紀(jì)二十年代巴黎的蒙巴那斯、1936年紐約的格林尼治村,還有今天昆明的創(chuàng)庫(kù)、成都的藍(lán)頂、重慶的坦克庫(kù)、北京大山子的798等等,都是這些宏大城市的“角落”,是曾經(jīng)被權(quán)利、政治、文化和金錢(qián)“遺忘”的地方。
但是,時(shí)過(guò)境遷——“雕欄玉砌應(yīng)猶在,只是朱顏改”。往日的文化、經(jīng)濟(jì)“角落” 在經(jīng)過(guò)一番包裝、改造后,已經(jīng)閃亮登場(chǎng),儼然變成了這些城市最時(shí)尚、亮麗的景點(diǎn),也是藝術(shù)家富集的“賣(mài)場(chǎng)”。798原是北京西郊一個(gè)破敗的工業(yè)區(qū),工廠(chǎng)倒閉、工人下崗,但隨著畫(huà)廊、出版商、藝術(shù)家工作室、表演中心、設(shè)計(jì)公司、展室、音樂(lè)酒吧、餐廳的入駐和聚集,近年來(lái)逐漸發(fā)展成為北京最具國(guó)際都市文化色彩的先鋒藝術(shù)社區(qū)。
貴陽(yáng)雖然是貴州省的省會(huì)和中心城市,但也只是中國(guó)遼闊版圖上的一個(gè)“角落”。與鄰近的昆明、成都、重慶等城市不同,貴陽(yáng)的藝術(shù)家們很難形成一個(gè)固定的藝術(shù)家社區(qū)。他們好像更喜歡散兵游勇式的、打一槍換一個(gè)地方的“游擊戰(zhàn)”方式。正是在這個(gè)意義上,我把貴陽(yáng)當(dāng)代藝術(shù)的交流形式稱(chēng)之為一個(gè)流動(dòng)的場(chǎng)域,這是一種真正保留了“野生”的口傳耳聞方式的藝術(shù)空間,這個(gè)空間不是物理意義上的,更多地與精神、氣質(zhì)、思想、生活方式和想象力有關(guān)。
“角落”是去中心的,或者說(shuō)“角落”根本就不屑與“中心”一爭(zhēng)高下。也許正是因?yàn)檫@種自在自為的“野生”狀態(tài),這些“野生”的藝術(shù)社區(qū)就像“濕地”一樣,維系著藝術(shù)“江湖”的生態(tài)平衡,成為推動(dòng)中國(guó)當(dāng)代藝術(shù)自我生長(zhǎng)的一股鮮活的動(dòng)力。
貴陽(yáng)的“城市零件”是最近才成立的一個(gè)新興的藝術(shù)社區(qū),也可能是我見(jiàn)過(guò)的中國(guó)最小的也是最有活力的藝術(shù)家社區(qū),聚集了貴州許多新銳和富于創(chuàng)造精神的青年藝術(shù)家。“城市零件”位于貴陽(yáng)市區(qū)相寶山腳下,據(jù)說(shuō)是風(fēng)水很好的一個(gè)地方。貴陽(yáng)城四面環(huán)山,中有南明河流經(jīng),山水靈秀。古人說(shuō)“仁者樂(lè)山,智者樂(lè)水”。所以貴陽(yáng)的藝術(shù)家們可以說(shuō)是仁智兼?zhèn)洌戎松揭暗摹暗貧狻?。我一直以為,中?guó)當(dāng)代藝術(shù)的發(fā)展,必須與本地的文化經(jīng)驗(yàn)和當(dāng)下肉身經(jīng)驗(yàn)結(jié)合才能生根,根深才能葉茂,葉茂才能長(zhǎng)成參天巨椽,所以“角落”里這些自我生長(zhǎng)的樹(shù)苗不容小看。
正如亞里斯多德所說(shuō),人們?yōu)榱嘶钪鴣?lái)到城市,為了活得更好而居留于城市。而一個(gè)美好的城市,是一個(gè)保留著文化多樣性的城市,是一個(gè)聚集了許多“角落”城市。這些“角落”是城市文化的細(xì)胞,也是當(dāng)代藝術(shù)生長(zhǎng)的“濕地”和藝術(shù)家理想棲居的“飛地”。
管郁達(dá)
“Corner” is a concept of cultural Geography in fact, which implies the areas and districts far away from the cultural and economical center. Montparnasse in Paris in 1920s, Greenwich in New York in 1936, and Chuang Warehouse in Kunming, Landing in Chengdu, Tank Warehouse in Chongqing, 798 Art Area in Beijing nowadays are all the so-called “Corners” in large cities. They have ever been forgotten by power, politics, culture and money.
But, time passes and the situation has changed. Cultural and economic corners of yesterday have new looks now after packaging and alteration. And they are now the most shining spots and their “stores” in the cities.798 Art Area was a bankrupt industrial zone. Later then there are gradually more and more galleries, workshops, performance centers, design companies, exhibition halls, music bars and restaurants here. 798 Art Area has already become a pioneer artistic zone most characterized with international urban cultures in Beijing.
Although Guiyang is the capital and central city of Guizhou Province, it is a “Corner” of large China. It is difficult for artists in Guiyang to form a fixed artistic area compared with Kunming, Chengdu and Chongqing. “Bush fighting” is their favorite way. And just because of this, exchanging form of Guiyang Contemporary Art is considered as a moving territory, which is an artistic space really preserving the “wildness” of words and hearings. This is a space related to not physics but spirit, thinking, living style, and imaginary.
“Corner” is far away from the center, or in other words “corner” scorns to compare with the “center”. Maybe it is just because of the “wildness”, the “wild” art areas keep the balance of art circle just like “everglade” and become a fresh drive to promote the growth of China Contemporary Art.
Guiyang Parts of City is a newly artistic area set up recently. It is maybe the smallest but the most active one in my mind gathering most creative new generation in Guizhou. “Parts of City” locates at the foot of Xiangbao Mountain. Around Guiyang are mountains, and a river runs through it. It is said “the humanity love mountain, while the wise love water”. Artists in Guiyang own the above two. In my opinion, the development of China Contemporary Art must combine with native culture and current experience to root deeply. Only because of the deep root, it can be thick with leaves. And finally, it could grow up to a towering tree. So the saplings growing in the corners have great power.
“People come to cities for life, and live there for a better one.” by Aristotle. A nice city is the one with variety of cultures and corners. And these corners are cells of urban culture, the “everglade” of contemporary art and the “enciave” of artists’ dream as well.