李繼森

 

勞夫˙李森斯壯，二○○八年八月

 

二○○六年我第一次在北京參加中藝博國際畫廊博覽會時，就被李繼森的作品吸引，並且深感興趣。浸淫在玩世寫實主義與政治波普藝術的中國藝術市場超過十年，我認為李繼森的作品表現出他獨有的對話方式。一群或單一朝向觀者的面孔，與觀者產生一種視覺對話，這些上轉九十度的臉，讓你也很想模仿、做出相同的動作。很多人都沒有理由、不自覺的這麼照做，其原因很可能是我們大腦裡的幻想作祟時，我們覺得需要往上看，或者是在轉頭時，我們可以激發人類的想像力。

 

李繼森的肖像也是一樣，它們也想從觀者得到一個答案或對話。此時誰是主、誰是客呢？是畫中影像跟你說故事，還是你說故事給它或它們聽呢？這種由你決定的對話，幾乎就跟默片電影雷同。手以及伸出的手指，在表現個人地位時也很重要。它們是法院法官告誡你何謂善或惡嗎？圍繞在他們脖子上的衣領，是現代社會模仿西部傳統服裝樣式的表現。背景常常取材自中國山水畫中的橫向式海洋，但有時候是中國戲曲中的舞台。我們是否看到一個演出的意象呢？每個人在生活中都扮演一個角色。從我們所處社會環境中的一些快樂活動，如比賽或哲學討論，來想像這些角色，可以把這種鼓舞人心的精神提高到一個大家都能參予的層次。到目前為止，雖然我在李繼森的作品中只看到男性的肖像，但是從兩年前我有幸結識這位藝術家起，他的作品產生了一些明顯的進步，讓我相當欣賞。他的用色和細部描繪變的更加成熟，人物的大小也變得比較大。伴隨這項進步的是藝術家的自信，這在李繼森近期的作品就看得出來。不管是從藝術家本身的看法或是從觀者欣賞的角度，這種自信應該會自然而然的讓他的作品達到完美的境界。李繼森作品會繼續產生對話，我期待他在未來會更加成功，並希望有一天可以在他目前以男性為主的肖像中，看到女性的肖像。

 

我是位經歷過既新興又活躍的中國當代藝術新潮的狂熱收藏家，我對畫作的評論，都是基於我看到畫作時的感受有感而發。這是一種十分個人的感受，但是李繼森的畫讓我看了以後覺得很快樂，而且我相信他的作品，也會讓許多收藏家及藝術愛好者跟我一樣快樂。

 

LI JI SEN

 

 

 

By Rolf Lethenstrom, October 2008

 

 

 

Li Ji Sen’s work caught my attention and interest in 2006, while visiting the CIGE Art Fair in Beijing for the first time. Having been following the Chinese art market for over a decade with it expressions of cynical realism and political pop, I find Li’s paintings express a dialogue in his own way. It is visual between the group of faces or by an individual face, towards the viewer. By tinting the head up to ninety (90) degrees angle creates a feeling towards you to imitate and do the same. People do it very often but without any reason or conscience. Probably is the reason that when the brains fantasy comes to play we need to look upwards or by turning our head we stimulate the human imagination.

 

Li Ji Sen’s portraits do the same and it is like they are seeking an answer or a dialogue from the viewer. Who is then the superior, the painted image telling you a story or you telling him or them a story? The dialogue is up to you almost like a silent movie. The hands and the extended fingers are also important in the expression of the individual’s position. Are they court judges telling you what is good or bad? The collars around their neck imitate the western old fashioned costumes expressed in a modern society. The background is often taken from the horizontal sea of from the Chinese landscape and sometimes with a theater stage seen in a Chinese opera. Do we see an image of performance or not? Well, all humans play a role in life and by picture them from our social environment with activities for enjoying ourselves either by a game or philosophically discussion, extends the inspiration to a level where we all can participate in. So far, I only see male portraits in Li Ji Sen’s work but the development during the last 2 years when I have had the pleasure to know the artist is very noticeable and appreciated.  The colors and the details are getting more sophisticated as well as the size of the individual is getting larger. This improvement comes with confidence and that is what Li Ji Sen shows in his recent works. The confidence should naturally lead to perfection both from the artists view as well as from the viewer’s admiration. The dialogue will continue in Li’s paintings and I look forward to follow his future success and hopefully see one day a female portrait in the dominating male portraits.

I am passionate art collector that experiences the new wave of Chinese Contemporary Art being so vibrant and emerging. I can only judge paintings based on how I feel when I see them, which is rather personal, but Li Ji Sen paintings make me happy and I believe he will make many collectors and art lovers also very happy.

作者：勞夫˙李森斯壯