影像時間向度與氛圍的追求
德國藝術家華安瑞(Andreas Walther)二十年前來到臺灣,不但和此地深刻結緣,多次居留長住,並且也進行了多次的合作計畫。這次他在當代館的小型回顧展,除了他早年的錄像作品外,主要展出近年創作的攝影作品。
在錄像和攝影之間迴轉遊歷,華安瑞較早期作品中有一個特點,即對於時間這個向度有特別的著重。錄像和攝影皆是以影像為基礎的藝術,然而錄像開展於流動的,甚至是可操弄其前進/後退及進展速度的時間中,而傳統的攝影卻只是時間之流中的一段切片。此次他展出2002年的錄像藝術作品,在德國與臺灣拍攝同一時期的日落時光,卻因為緯度高低不同而產生了由明至暗時間長度及光線變化狀況的對比。這兩段時光在作品中以錄像分隔並置的方式呈現,是一種直接的對比。到了他最近側重風景及自然的攝影作品中,藝術家想要突破攝影在時間這個向度上固有的限制,採用了數位攝影修圖的方式,使得拍攝時內在的感受,可以經過長時間在心中的蘊釀,並藉著數位攝影的特點,將不同時段的影像加以疊合或並置,嘗試找回到有所感動並按下快門時的整體環境氛圍。
這種對於氛圍的探索和追求,也表現在華安瑞更晚近的作品中:由他主觀的觀點出發,他表示想要透過攝影去傳達拍攝當時感受到的環境氣氛;然而由觀者的角度出發,這裡所謂的氣氛或氛圍,應也是一種對於客觀環境有所回應的心境世界。在目前這個具有小型回顧展性質的展覽中,創作者實驗著種種傳達其追尋的方法,除了尺幅加大的單幅攝影,還有如前述的雙屏併置、或是在黑色底紙上噴墨、超寬尺寸的横幅等。藝術家意圖使得其作品觀看經驗由簡明快速的影像提供,轉化為一種逐漸展開的觀看和沉思體會,而這也給展覽名稱「遊歷」(Wandering)另一層較深沉的意含。
Temporal Dimension in Image and the Pursuit of Atmosphere
German artist Andreas Walther first visited Taiwan in 1998. Since then, he has formed strong ties with the island and has had various project cooperations during several long stays. 20 years later, this small-scale retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA), Taipei, shows some of his photographic works from the recent years in line with his early video works.
Wandering between video and photography, Walther’s early works share one specific feature, which is his emphasis on the temporal dimension. Although video and photography are both art forms based on image, the temporality displayed in video is fluid and open to manipulation, as one can forward, rewind and control the speed of progression; on the other hand, traditional photography represents a temporal slice captured from the flow of time. This exhibition features one particular video artwork created in 2002, in which the artist filmed the sunset of the same period in both Germany and Taiwan. Due to the difference in latitude, the work shows a vivid contrast between the two videos in terms of the sunset’s time span and changes of light. The two time periods are juxtaposed to demonstrate a direct contrast in the exhibition. In his later work, Walther has focused on the photography of landscape and nature. Attempting to break through the photographic retrains on the subject of time, he adopts the approach of digital photography and the technique of retouching, which allow him to contemplate longer on the inner feelings when photographs are taken. By overlapping or juxtaposing images from different time periods, he recreates the overall atmosphere of the moment he felt moved and pressed the shutter.
The artist’s exploration and pursuit of atmosphere can be detected in his more recent works as well. Starting from a subjective viewpoint, he uses photography to convey the atmosphere that he perceived when he took the photographs. Nevertheless, from the viewer’s point of view, the so-called atmosphere can also be a state of mind as a response to the objective environment. In this exhibition, Walther experiments with various means to visualize his artistic pursuit. In addition to large scale single photographs, the audience can also see two-channel videos, such as the one mentioned above, an extended horizontal scroll and works created through printing on black paper. The artist intends to transform the exhibition from a straightforward display of images into a contemplative viewing experience that gradually unfolds, and this attempt has indeed revealed a deeper layer of meaning conveyed through the exhibition title ‚Wandering.