The Spark of Fusion
文化交融的火花
What is the major difference of my fine arts education between China and New Zealand?
谈到美术教育，中国和新西兰之间最大的不同是什么？
I have studied in the leading fine arts institues and practising art-making for many years both in China and New Zealand. From my observation and experience, the answer is the decision on emphasizing techinique or concept during my creative process.
我曾先后在中国和新西兰的顶尖美术学院学习多年，也长期在两国从事艺术创作。从个人观察和经验而言，我认为最大的不同是两国的美术创作一个重技艺，一个重观念。
When I studied in the Oil Painting Department at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in China, I spent hours and hours on developing painting techniques and often judged my works with the old master’s perspective. I did a lot of research on works by greatest Western masters in order to find out how they used brush strokes to create atmosphere and what kind of paint they used to achieve special effect. I believed that as I was professionally trained and I have the knolwedge and skill to complete the work in higher standard as well as refining aesthetics value.
在中国广州美术学院油画系学习期间，我花了不少时间和心血提高绘画技术，并用早期油画大师的视角来审视自己的作品，我研究了许多西方艺术大师的杰作，学习如何运用笔触营造艺术氛围，使用何种颜料达到特定的效果。我也坚信自己受过专业培训，掌握了高标准创作和提升作品审美价值的相关知识技能。
During my Master of Fine Arts programme at Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland in New Zealand, I found that the learning strategy and the programme system were very different. In a work, I learnt how to develop a concept and I was able to work with other mediums. I gained a whole lot of knowledge from group critique, one on one meeting with supervisors and participated in reading groups. All these activities opened up my eyes and engaged me to express an idea by using any medium. Also, I had opportunity to work with the technicians and they gave me a great deal of advise and guided me to complete projects. Art-making became an interesting, creative and fruitful activity.
后来，我奔赴新西兰奥克兰大学（University of Auckland）埃兰艺术学院（Elam School of Fine Arts）攻读美术硕士学位，正是那时才发现中新两国在学习方略和课程体系的差异。通过某个作品的创作，我学到了如何提出概念，如何运用其他创作媒介。小组互评、读书会、导师一对一会面等教学方式不仅让我受教良多，眼界大开，也让我学会用任一种媒介阐述创作理念。此外，我还有机会与技师们合作，得到了创作方面的专业建议和指导。在新西兰，艺术创作的全过程让人兴致勃勃，创意迸发，收获颇丰。
East and west, traditional and contemporary, technical and conceptual; like the Chinese Yin and Yang philosophy describes how apparently opposite or contrary forces are actually complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. The spark of fusion will provide a new direction in contemporary art.
通过两国的学习和创作体验，我体会到了东方和西方、传统与当代、技艺与概念之间的对立。正如中国的阴阳学说所述，自然界有着两股相互补充、相互联系又相互独立的对立力量——阴和阳，它们密不可分，相生相成。阴与阳的交融激荡起的创意花火，也将为当代艺术指明新的方向。
Curator: Alvin Xiong
策展人：熊炜
Article for the exhibition Big Catch On Live Bait, 2016, Nathan Homestead Arts Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
Published on the exhibition catalogue
Publisher: Alte Btücke Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany