赵大陆作品  2020之十二生肖

疫情期间，艺术家赵大陆创作了一组 “十二生肖”的作品，它们给人的感觉既熟悉又陌生，熟悉的是你我皆有属相，对于它们的形象已经眼熟能详；而陌生的是它们带着口罩，目视前方，就像是一个个鲜活的生命在诉说着什么。

这组作品的创作构想，源于赵大陆对疫情的反思，在家隔离期间，他关注着全球疫情的发展，同时，也让他产生了非常多的感触，尤其是随着年龄的增长，对于生命的体会更深了。“真的是世事无常，人的生命太渺小和脆弱了，一场大流行病带走了太多的生命，所以也在不断的反思，该如何对待生命，人生的意义究竟是什么？”他说。

正是基于这样的思考，赵大陆带着某种使命感创作出这组作品。而“十二生肖”在他这里又有着特殊的含义“对于国人来说，每个人都有属于自己的属相，所以十二生肖代表的是芸芸众生，代表的是生命本身，而在生命面前大家都是平等的。”

在创作上，赵大陆采用铅笔素描的手法，他认为使用黑白的手段可使形象更直接、明确，能直达事物的本质，很容易和观者形成一种沟通。他说自己是一个喜欢钻研绘画技巧的人，从小热爱绘画，在素描方面下过很大的功夫，后来又有相当长一段时间在大学教授素描与油画。所以对素描有种驾轻就熟的亲切感。

此外，赵大陆还讲到，艺术家的思考以及创作，尤其当前疫情之下是有其社会责任的。艺术作品能够对心灵产生抚慰，艺术家不能只想着功名、金钱以及利益，如果决定要做艺术家，就要有心理准备，要为其献身，将艺术变成生活的方式甚至是一种信仰。

2020之牛 Ox 纸上铅笔素描 Pencil Drawing on paper 60x40cm 2020

当然，这也是赵大陆不断突破自我的又一次全新尝试，就像他讲到的那样“艺术家要做有创造性的事情，在已有的基础上，不管迈出了多小的一步，那都是非常有价值的，作品就会有相应的意义。”

雅昌艺术网：由于新冠病毒疫情的突发，使全世界都陷入了停滞甚至是混乱之中，各个行业都受到了很大的冲击，艺术也很难幸免于难，很多展览以及活动不得不延期甚至是停办，人们被隔离在家，生活和工作都受到了很大的限制，所以想请您谈谈，疫情对您的工作和生活影响大吗？

赵大陆：2020年澳大利亚疫情经过五六个月的高峰之后，现在已经趋于缓和，人们可以戴口罩出行，社会秩序也开始逐渐恢复正常。

从创作角度来说，疫情对于艺术家的生活影响并不是很大，画画的人平日就是宅在家，这倒正好给艺术家们提供了一段可以静心独处和思考的时间。

雅昌艺术网：从网络的社交平台中可以看到，隔离在家的人们通过各种各样的形式，来度过这段难熬的时间，很好奇隔离期间您是如何度过的？您目前的生活以及工作状态是怎样的？

赵大陆：可以说回到一种农耕的状态，种点菜，整理花园，看书，画画。原计划2019年末要在墨尔本做一场个展的，由于疫情的原因不断地往后推延至今年的年中，也正好有更多的时间去准备。我基本上是处在一种非常平静的状态，当然也会上网关注全球疫情的发展情况。

雅昌艺术网：您以非常淡然的方式来处理这样一件非常“痛苦”的事情，这是需要很大的定力的，尤其是人在独处的时候，想要做到这份淡然非常的难，但并不意味着您不关心，就像您讲到的会不时地关注疫情的发展，这次疫情对您影响最大的是什么？

赵大陆：这次全球性疫情给我很多的触动，尤其是随着年龄的增长，对于生命意义的体会更深了，真的是世事无常，人的生命太渺小和脆弱了，一场大流行病带走了太多的生命，所以应不断的反思，该如何对待生命，人生的意义究竟是什么？

就好比说即便你很富有很有名，但面对疾病同样可能付出生命，这时候金钱、地位又有什么意义呢？所以我们要利用有限的生命做些事，能够使自己的人生变得更加丰满，而不是一味的追求物质，疫情给了我们一个巨大的提示，给了我们反思的动力。

雅昌艺术网：了解到疫情期间您创作了一组作品“十二生肖”，为什么会想到创作这样一组作品？“十二生肖”对于国人来说有很深的寓意在里面，同时“十二生肖”自身也具有非常丰富多元的文化含义，对于“十二生肖”您又是如何看待的？

赵大陆：可能是由于有了对疫情的反思才引发我的某种灵感，促成我创作出了这样一组作品。对于国人来说，每个人都有属于自己的属相，所以十二动物生肖代表的就是芸芸众生，也可以说是代表了所有有生命的个体，而在生命面前大家都是平等的。

另外一方面，十二生肖又含有时间的概念在里面，每个生肖代表的都是一个年份，十二个生肖正好是一个轮回。而十二这个数字非常的有意思，在计时上面一年有十二个月，而我们中国还有一天十二个时辰的说法，十二等于把生命内在的东西与时间、空间、文化、记忆等等都联系在了一起。

雅昌艺术网：看您的作品非常的有意思，“十二生肖”们每个生肖都带着口罩，并且它们的口罩还个不相同；此外，它们其中的几个戴口罩也很不规矩，有的戴在鼻子上，有的戴在嘴巴上面，还有的是张着嘴戴口罩，非常的生动，为什么会这样的去处理？

赵大陆：要说今年全世界所有人都具有的一个最大特征是什么，无疑是戴口罩了，所以我也给每个生肖都戴上了口罩。

口罩戴法各不相同，这就是疫情初期国外不习惯戴口罩人群的真实写照，有的戴在鼻子上面露着嘴巴，有的是鼻子露在外面，对于他们来说，戴口罩很多时候只是一个规定动作，给别人看我带着呢，就是这样。经过一年的反复封禁解禁，无论人们是什么民族、文化，也不论贫富、职业、地位，在疫情面前都绝对是平等的。而我们每个人彼此所做的一切都会相互产生影响，人们好像已习惯戴口罩了，保护好自己就是在保护别人，最终是为了早日摘掉口罩。

雅昌艺术网：还有属相们的造型，虽然是绘画，但给人一种雕塑感，甚至是具有金属的质感在里面，这自然而然的就想到了圆明园的十二兽首，两者之间是否有渊源？

赵大陆：对，我确实做了很多参考。圆明园十二兽首的造型非常有特点，虽然采用的是西方雕塑经典写实的创作手法，但是又有中国艺术元素的融入，可以看作是早期的中西文化融合的艺术典范。我在网上看了很多相关的资料和历史回顾，我既按照又没有完全复制圆明园十二兽首形象，创作中加入了自己的思考。其实关于艺术创作，首先就是要树立自己的艺术观念和创作的理念。

2020之马 Horse 纸上铅笔素描 Pencil Drawing on paper 60x40cm 2020

雅昌艺术网：“十二生肖”的造型看起来也非常的拟人化，尤其是它们的眼神，可以看出很多不同的含义，您在创作的时候没有画投影和背景，就是非常直接的一个形象放在那里，简约、明确，很容易和观者形成一种沟通。为什么会选择素描这种方式来创作？

赵大陆：对能够说明人物心理活动的东西我比较敏感也有兴趣。素描作为一种绘画方式，非常的单纯和直接。比如人们去到美术馆观看绘画展览尤其是油画类作品时候，时常会有一种压力，因为画面会呈现非常多的造型因素去干扰观者的判断。而素描就不一样，它只有黑白关系，观众可以更直接的理解画面并把注意力放在自己感兴趣的地方。使用黑白的手段可使形象更直接、明确，能直达事物的本质，更容易与观者沟通进而产生共鸣。另外，我选择素描的方式进行创作，也是出于自己是一个喜欢钻研绘画技巧的人，从小热爱绘画，在素描方面下过很大的功夫，后来又有相当长一段时间在大学教授素描与油画。所以对素描有种驾轻就熟的亲切感。 从另一个角度看，素描需要一种才能加勇气、耐力和时间，以“安静”的心态去创作，而所有艺术创作何不是如此呢。之前我在高校教学的经历告诉我，所有学习美术的人内心都希望自己有过硬的基本功。我欣慰自己还能以初心来完成这批素描。

2020之猴 Monkey 纸上铅笔素描 Pencil Drawing on paper 60x40cm 2020

雅昌艺术网：这样的主题以及创作手法相结合，确实很适合表达您对于疫情的反思和感受，能够将自己的情感非常直接的传达给观众，那么在今后您还会用其他的方式来创作这个题材吗？

赵大陆：暂时不会，也暂不太会做生肖系列的东西了，这些算是完成了自己要表达对2020年感受的一个心愿。反思了全世界进入如此困境的现状，创作的意义也就完成了，就像之前的“兵团系列”，以后可能也不太会再画那种题材的东西，就是已完成了这个心愿。年轻时候会不断重复某个题材的创作，尤其喜欢重复画受欢迎的题材。现在更多的是跟随自己的内心去做。

雅昌艺术网：面对疫情，尤其是在抗击疫情上面，不同领域的人们都在做出自己的努力，而具体到艺术领域的时候，常常会有一种无力感甚至是自我怀疑，既不能支援前线，也不能治病，很多时候人们也在追问和反思，艺术究竟可以干什么？您是如何看待这个问题的？

赵大陆：疫情之下，艺术家的思考以及创作，是有其社会责任的，艺术能够对心灵产生抚慰和启迪，艺术家还应尽最大可能为社会提供想象力，不能只想着功名、金钱以及利益，如果要做艺术家，就要有这个心理准备，要为其献身，将艺术变成生活的方式甚至是一种信仰。

雅昌艺术网：看您的创作，一直在不断的尝试，也在不断的寻求突破，您长期旅居海外並在国际艺术界获得了一系列令人瞩目的成就，在艺术领域获得了不少赞誉。2011年在中国美术馆举办油画个展《阅读记忆》是由雅昌参与主办的至今令人难忘，之后在2012年在何香凝美术馆举办油画个展《象外》，用油画的工具材料作为创作的媒介表现中国画，让人耳目一新。这次的“十二生肖”的创作会开启您创作的新阶段吗？

赵大陆：倒不敢说是新阶段，艺术创作就是一个自然而然的事情，从小学到大学一直在进行绘画方面的训练，能够心无旁骛的在素描上面花费这么多的时间，真的是挺不容易的，既然掌握了这样的技术，就想拿它来表达新的观念以及对新事物的认识。个人的创作在已有的基础上，不管迈出了多小的一步，都是非常有价值的，作品就会有相应的意义。

当今社会充满了功利与浮躁，在经历了2020大疫之年后，愿人们都能更真诚的对待生活，与大自然和谐相处，尊重生命的价值。通过这次的创作，我把对生命的关怀，以及自己对于素描的情结都包含在这十二兽首的作品里面了。

The reflection and thoughts of Zhao Dalu’s new series -“12 Zodiac” under the pandemic

The artist Zhao Dalu’s created a series of "12 Chinese Zodiac" during the pandemic. It raises the feeling of familiarity and unfamiliarity among the audience. The familiarity comes from the widely adopted Zodiac signs, in which their images are deeply rooted in our culture. The strangeness comes from the masks they are wearing and their far-starring eyes. They are more like living beings than ever, telling something silently.

The inspiration for this series comes from Dalu Zhao’s reflection on the pandemic. While isolating at home, he paid attention to the global case roll. As he gets old, the current situation brought him a lot of emotions and feelings towards life and death. “The world is impermanent. We, as humans, are so small and weak. A pandemic could bring so many lives with it, and that got me thinking about the way we see life and the purpose of living.”

As this thought goes, Zhao Dalu created this series of works with a sense of mission. The "Chinese Zodiac" used in this series has a special representational meaning to him. "For Chinese people, everyone will have a Zodiac assigned at birth. Therefore, the 12 Zodiac signs represent all the people and life per se. In front of life, everyone is equal."

In the means of creation, Zhao Dalu uses pencil sketching. He believes that the simplicity of black and white can illustrate images more direct and upfront, it can reach the essence of the subject and easily foster communication with the audience. He said that he likes to study drawing techniques and has paid lots of effort to sketching from an early age. Later on, he spent many years teaching sketching and oil painting in universities and thus sketching brings him a sense of familiarity and comfort.

In addition, Zhao Dalu mentioned that artists thinking and creation, especially under the current epidemic, have their social responsibilities. Art has the power to comfort souls, and that’s why an artist cannot just think about fame, money, and benefits. If someone decides to become an artist, he must be psychologically prepared for the dedication, and for turning art into a lifelong pursuit or even a belief.

This is another break-through Zhao Dalu has attempted. As he described, "Artists must do things that are creative. On top of things that already exist, no matter how small a step is taken, it is a valuable step and it gives the work corresponding meanings."

Artron：The sudden outbreak of the Covid-19 makes, the world fall into stagnation or even chaos. Various industries have been greatly impacted, and art is hardly spared. Many exhibitions and events have to be postponed or suspended. People are quarantined at home, life and work are greatly restricted, would you mind to talk about the impact of the epidemic on your work and life?

Zhao Dalu: After a five-or-six-month peak in Australia in 2020, the pandemic has eased a bit. People can travel as long as with masks, and social order has gradually returned to normal.

From a creative perspective, the epidemic doesn’t have too much impact on my life as an artist. Artists usually just stay at home and paint, and this provides us with a great period of time to be alone and think.

Artron：From online social platforms, we can see that people who are isolated at home spend this difficult time in many different ways. I am curious how you spent the isolation period? How does your current life and work look like?

Zhao Dalu: I would say it almost has returned to an original farming lifestyle, planting vegetables, organizing the garden, reading books, and painting. I planned to hold a solo exhibition in Melbourne at the end of 2019, but it was continuously postponed until the middle of this year. Now I just happened to have more time to prepare. I am basically in a very calm state, and of course, I will follow the global pandemic news on the Internet.

Artron: You deal with such a "painful" crisis in a very calm and intrinsic way, which requires a lot of concentration. It is very difficult to achieve a state like this, especially when people are alone. But calm doesn’t mean that you don't care, as you mentioned, you pay attention to the global pandemic news from time to time. What is the biggest impact of this epidemic on you?

Zhao Dalu: This global pandemic really touched me a lot, especially as I grow older, my understanding of the meaning of life has gone deeper. The world is really impermanent. We, as humans, are so small and weak. A pandemic could bring so many lives with it, and that got me thinking about the way we see life and the purpose of living. Even if you have great potential to achieve something, you can still lose your life to the disease. Then what’s the meaning of wealth and status? Therefore we should use our limited life to do something that makes our life fuller and more meaningful, instead of blindly pursuing materialistic goods. The pandemic has given us a revelation and motivation to reflect on our life.

Artron：You have created a group of "Chinese Zodiac" works during the epidemic, why did you think of creating such a group of works? The "Chinese Zodiac" is meaningful to us Chinese people, at the same time the sign itself has deep meanings and cultural representation. What do you think of the "Chinese Zodiac"?

Zhao Dalu: It may be the pandemic has gotten me to reflect and create such a group of works. For Chinese people, everyone will have a Zodiac assigned at birth. Therefore, the 12 Zodiac signs represent all the people and life per se. In front of life, everyone is equal. On the other hand, the 12 Zodiac involves the concept of time. Each Zodiac represents a year and twelve compose a cycle, meaning metempsychosis. The number of twelve is very interesting. In the sense of time, twelve months make up a year. In traditional Chinese culture, we have twelve timeslots a day.  Twelve is a connecting point of everything that matters to life, of time, space, culture and memories.

Artron: In your works, it’s very interesting to see "Chinese Zodiac" wear masks, and their masks are different. In addition, some of them wear masks irregularly, some wear on their noses, some wear on their mouths, and some wear masks with their mouths open. They are very vivid, why do you choose to portrait them like this?

Zhao Dalu: One of the most common characteristics that everyone in the world shares this year is undoubtedly a mask, so I also put a mask on every Chinese zodiac.

Masks are worn in different ways. This is a realistic portrayal of people who were not accustomed to wearing masks at the beginning of the epidemic. Some wear only on their noses with mouths exposed, and some had their noses exposed. For them, wearing masks seems just a prescribed action to show others that they are wearing, and that's all. After a year of repeated bans and lifting, people understand that no matter what ethnicity, culture, rich or poor, occupation, status, we are all equal in front of the pandemic. What each of us does will affect each other, and now people seem to be accustomed to wearing masks, as protecting yourself is also protecting the others. A the end of the day, we all want to remove the masks as soon as possible.

Artron: The image of the zodiac signs, although they are drawings, they give people a sculptural sense with a hint of metallic glow, which naturally reminds us of the twelve beast heads in Yuanmingyuan. Is there a relationship between the two?

Zhao Dalu: Yes, I did make a lot of references. The shape of the twelve beast heads in the Old Summer Palace is very distinctive. Although it adopts the classical realistic style of Western sculpture, it incorporates Chinese aesthetic elements. It can be regarded as an early example of the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. I have read a lot of related materials and historical documents online. I followed the image but did not completely borrow the model of the twelve beast heads in Yuanmingyuan, I have added my own thinking in this creation. In fact, with regard to artistic creation, we must first establish our own artistic concept and creative concept.

Artron: The "Chinese Zodiac" also looks very humanlike, especially their eyes, you can see a lot of different meanings. You didn't draw any background or environment when you created it, you just put a very direct image there. Such simple and clear images initiate communication easily with the viewers. Why did you choose sketching as a medium to create?

Zhao Dalu: I am more sensitive and interested in things that can showcase the psychological activities of characters. As a painting method, sketching is a very pure and straightforward method. For example, when people go to art museums to see exhibitions, especially oil paintings, they often feel the pressure, because the pictures present a lot of elements to interfere with the viewer's judgment. Sketching is different. It only black and white. The audience can understand it more directly and focus on their point of interest. Utilizing black and white can make the image more direct and clearer, can reveal the essence of the subject and resonate with the audience. In addition, I chose sketching for my creations because I am a person who likes to study painting techniques. I love painting since an early age, and I paid lots of effort practicing sketching. Later on, I spent many years teaching sketching and oil painting in universities, and thus sketching brings me a sense of familiarity and comfort. From another perspective, sketching requires talent and courage, endurance and time, that you have to create with a "quiet" mentality. Aren’t all artistic creation like this? My previous experience of teaching in universities told me that all those who study art hope that they have good fundamental skills. I am grateful that I can still complete these sketches with my original intentions.

Artron: The combination of this theme and creative technique is indeed very suitable for expressing your reflection and feelings about the epidemic, and can convey your emotions to the audience very directly. So in the future, will you use other medium to re-create this theme?

Zhao Dalu:  Not for the time being, and I don’t think I’ll make more of the Zodiac series. These are a fulfillment of my wish to express my feelings for 2020. Reflecting on the current situation in which the world has entered such a predicament, the meaning of creation has been achieved. Just like the previous "Construction Corp series", I may not be able to paint that subject matter again in the future. The wish is fulfilled. I may repetitively create a certain theme, especially those popular themes. But now it is more to follow my own heart.

Artron: Dealing with the epidemic, especially in the fight against the epidemic, people in different fields are making their own efforts. When it comes to the field of art, there is often a sense of powerlessness and even self-doubt, which can neither support the frontline nor cure it. People often ask and reflect on what can art do. How do you view this issue?

Zhao Dalu: In a pandemic, the thinking and creation of an artist should have social responsibilities. Art has the power to comfort souls, and artists should try their best to bring imaginations and hopes to the society. That’s why an artist cannot just think about fame, money, and benefits. If someone decides to become an artist, he must be psychologically prepared for the dedication, and for turning art into a lifelong pursuit or even a belief.

Artron: Looking at your artistic creation, you have been constantly trying and seeking breakthroughs. You have lived abroad for a long time and have reached a series of impressive achievements and have won many praises in the international art field. In 2011, the solo oil painting exhibition "Reading Memory" was held at the National Art Museum of China, sponsored by Artron, and it is unforgettable. Later, in 2012, the oil painting exhibition "Image and Beyond" was held at He Xiangning Art Museum. You used oil painting as medium to create a series of Chinese painting, which is refreshing. Will the creation of this "Zodiac" series opens a new chapter of your creation?

Zhao Dalu: I wouldn’t say it will be a new chapter, as the creation of art is a natural thing. I have been training in painting from elementary school to university. It is really not easy to be able to practice and perfecting sketching without any distraction. With such a skill, I want to use it on exploring new ideas and expressing my understanding of new things. On top of my own creation, a step forward is very valuable, no matter how small the step is. That gives special meanings the corresponding works.

Society nowadays is full of utilitarian and impetuous thoughts. After experiencing the 2020 pandemic, I hope that people can treat life more sincerely, live in harmony with nature, and respect the value of life. Through this creation, I have poured my care for life and my love for sketching into these twelve beast heads.

（翻译：霁月 Viahsta Yuan）