Name of Exhibition: ALL ABOUT LOVE

　　Opening Dates: 8th November 2008 - 13th November 2008

　　Solo or Group Exhibition: Solo

　　Name of Curator: Zhu Qi\朱其

　　Description of the Exhibition:符号的力量──艾敬作品自我阐述

　　>2007年的夏天，我在纽约位于下东城（LOWER EASTSIDE）的画室里开始我前所未有的尝试，我在网络上看到祖国关于奥运会的开幕将在2008年8月8日晚8点举办，让我忽然有了一个创作灵感。于是我创作了两幅油画：《2008年8月8日晚8点》和《1997年7月1日零点0：00》。

　　>数字或者符号对我们会产生某种沟通和暗示，我们从出生起就被一些数字和符号编程，

　　沿着一个数字的轨迹去生活。某些数字能够给我们带来喜悦和悲伤，我们会记住那些日子。

　　>2008年8月8日晚8点，在那一天我们相信所有的幸福和快乐将要爆发，全中国人都相信数字“8”是吉祥的象征，于是我们每个人的潜意识里给“8”这个数字释放正面的能量。“8”的能量到底有多么神奇已经没有必要去考证，重要的是，我们中国人想让全世界去感受这种强大的骄傲和幸福感。然而，在到达“8”之前的那些数字和符号将意味着什么呢？！谁来关心和记录它们?我决定从2008年4月30日起用艺术创作的形式来倒数这100天，因为我相信每一天对于将来都是重要的。

　　>2008年2月底，我从纽约回来北京，3月份开始准备和定制材料，同时创作完成了一首歌《我的2008》的音乐制作。4月30日那天正式开始创作倒计时100幅作品，我准备把这一百幅作品用一种方法，用同一种颜色，不断地重复，通过重复来加深印象，就像我们在60年代的灰色中山装和军绿色，我选择了红色这种热烈的色彩，艳和欲望，血和赤诚，它是我内心里的颜色。然而就在5月12日这一天突发的汶川大地震，给我的作品带来不可预料的变化……地震的灾害和遇难的人们拯救了我的作品创作，使我的作品避免了单一性，给这些作品注入了难以忘怀的记忆。

　　>这100幅倒计时作品有两种尺寸，几种颜色和数字符号在一起，传达着信息和情感。它们按照顺序排列起来像是一段旋律，高低起伏，明暗强弱，是一首民谣（FOLK SONG），诉说着过去100天里发生的故事。

　　>每一个被翻过去的一页，将是值得我们去回味的。我更相信，当一个普通的数字和平凡的日历符号出现在你眼前，它带给每一个人的讯息会是不一样的，也是最私密的。当这些数字或者符号与你的内心开始沟通，使你停顿或者迟缓，你脑海里有了画面或者人物，并打开你记忆或者想象的时候，那才是我创作的开始。

艾敬 2008-9-28

The Power of Symbols

　　In the summer of 2007, an unprecedented experimental work went into creation in my studio onthe Lower East Side of New York City. The news that the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games would beheld in Beijing at 8 P.M. on August 8, inspired me to create the works of 8 PM, August 8, 2008 and 0:00, July 1, 1997.

　　Ever since we came into this world, numbers and symbols have provided us with certain communications or hints, which programour lives. The track of our life is made up of all kinds of numbers, whichbring us happiness and sadness and also make some days remembered forever.

　　At 8 P.M. on August 8, 2008, we believed that happiness and joy would bust into the atmosphere. The number 8 signifies good luck and great fortune, according to traditional Chinese culture; therefore, everyone willsubconsciously release a positive energy for this number. It is not necessary to investigate how powerfulor magical the number is; what’s more important is that our Chinese people hope everyone in the worldcan feel our tremendous pride and happiness. However, where is the significance of the other numbersand symbols before we reach day No. 8? Who will care for or record these numbers and symbols? Therefore, I decided to make a countdown from April 30th, 2008 to record these 100 days through my own art forms, for every single day is important for fortune.

　　I returned to Beijing from New York in February 2008, and started making preparations and ordering materials. At the same time, the production of MY 2008 was completed. On April 30, I started the countdown of 100 art works by repeating one method of creation and one kind of color to deepen the impression, which was similar to the colors of 1960’s in China, when gray tunicsand green army uniforms were everywhere. Red was my choice because it was the color deepin my soul that was dazzling and desirous, representing blood and loyalty. Nevertheless, the unpredictableWenchuan earthquake of May 12 brought my work great and unexpected changes. The disasterand suffering of the people during the earthquake rescued my work from sole unity, pouringunforgettable memories into these art works.

　　These 100 countdown works contain two kinds of scales, with several colors and numbers joined togetherto express information and feelings. They have been arranged in a certain order to be performed as afolk song, rising and falling in cadence, and with bright and shades of lights that tell the stories of thepast 100 days.

　　Every page turned is worth our retrospection. When a common number or an ordinary calendar appears in front of you, it will bring different people different information, which may be mostprivate. It is the very beginning of creation when these numbers or symbols start tocommunicate with your soul, try to enter your memories and involve your imagination.

Ai Jing September 28, 2008

　　Organizer (Place, City, Country): Today Art Museum，Beijing, China
　　Press links:http://auction.artron.net/20121109/n279925.html