文本刊記者 張亞萌 Zhang Yameng 譯曹宇光Cao Yuguang

我眼中的歷史（布面丙烯）沙凡·艾哈邁德History Within My Eyes（Acrylic on Canvas）by Shaffan Ahmed

“15年前、2002年的9月，也是在中國美術館，首屆北京國際美術雙年展呈現在世人面前；15年過去，北京雙年展的成績單令國人和世界矚目，我有幸作為親歷者，作為該展的發(fā)起人，一直見證著它的發(fā)展和成長?！敝袊绤f主席劉大為在“2017·第七屆中國北京國際美術雙年展”開幕式上這樣回顧。

今年恰逢北京雙年展創(chuàng)辦15周年。15年，對于雙年機制與頻率的北京雙年展來說，是接近5500天的一步步的成長，對于歷史長河，只是短短一瞬——9月24日至10月15日，由中國文聯、北京市人民政府和中國美協聯合主辦，以“絲路與世界文明”為主題的“2017·第七屆中國北京國際美術雙年展”在北京中國美術館舉辦，更成為“15歲”的北京雙年展的重要節(jié)點——共有來自五大洲102個國家的567位美術家?guī)?01件作品，其中外國（含特展）作品411件、中國作品190件，涵蓋當代繪畫、雕塑、裝置、影像以及其他多媒體作品。

絢麗奪目的視覺華章

600多件參展作品，600多種不同的藝術風格，展覽主題“絲路與世界文明”得到的全球呼應熱度一目了然。本屆北京雙年展是活動創(chuàng)辦以來首次突破100個國家參展，也是全球迄今為止首個達到100個參展國家的美術展覽，表明了北京雙年展的國際知名度、影響力和吸引力日益提升，其中中非、斐濟、幾內亞、洪都拉斯、馬爾代夫、巴勒斯坦、巴拿馬、塞舌爾、坦桑尼亞、也門等國都是首次參展。

“2013年秋天，中國國家主席習近平洞察世界發(fā)展的大勢、順應國際合作的潮流，提出了共建絲綢之路經濟帶和21世紀海上絲綢之路、即‘一帶一路’倡議。4年來，這一倡議得到全球100多個國家和國際組織的積極支持和廣泛參與，逐漸從理念轉化為行動，從愿景轉化為現實，取得顯著成就。就在今年5月，‘一帶一路’國際合作高峰論壇成功舉辦，來自100多個國家的各界嘉賓齊聚北京，共商合作發(fā)展大計，盛況空前，成果豐碩?！敝袊穆摳敝飨钜俦硎荆p年展融入“絲路精神”，將賦予其更加牢固的根基、更加廣闊的舞臺，也更加富有包容性、時代感和強大的生命力。

作為“一帶一路”精神最早的領悟者，中國藝術家的參展作品以題材的廣泛性、形態(tài)的多元性以及手法的多樣性精彩地回應了“絲路與世界文明”這一主題?！霸谥袊囆g家的筆下，無論是古道明月、梵音漣漪，還是援非醫(yī)療隊；無論是神秘的燃燈節(jié)、苦水社火，還是今日都市的微生活；無論是逍遙游、萬物生，還是跨越亞歐大陸的高鐵；無論是羅盤、指南針，還是海上絲路的全圖勝景，無不或高亢或低吟地敘述著絲綢之路這條歷史上最為古老、世界上最為綿長的人類互通共榮之路。在展覽的現場，迷人的古道氣息與生機勃勃的時代氣象交互相生，誘人的味道彌散于歷史的天空，入人心目，沁人心脾。比起傳統(tǒng)的再現手法，藝術家們似乎更愿意將作品當作文化符碼來加以建構，由此所洋溢出的象征、隱喻、寓言的意味，將觀者帶入冥思與遐想?！北本╇p年展策委張曉凌說。

尤其值得一提的是，為填補當前大型“一帶一路”主題美術作品的空白，組委會專門組織國內美術家在有限的時間內完成了兩件大體量的主題作品：一件是鄭百重創(chuàng)作的6米長的國畫《海上絲路新篇章》，一件是馮路敏等合作的8米長的油畫《絲綢之路新篇章》。

國外藝術家的參展作品同樣佳作云集，完全可以連綴成絢麗奪目的視覺華章。那些鴻篇巨制，或展示由絲路連接的文明圣地的壯觀勝景，或以近乎抽象的面貌呼應一種匯融與拓展的氣場；也有蕞爾小品，或抒發(fā)激情，或點化依稀朦朧的情致，洋溢出令人回味無窮的詩性。北京雙年展策委丁寧說：“有些藝術家是運用了類似蒙太奇的手法，將東西方的歷史情景、先賢人物或者文化符號拼接、疊合在一起，給人以朦朧而又真實的印象；有些藝術家在改造經典的圖像材料的基礎上略加點綴，就營造了歷史的傳奇感。藝術家們在藝術語言的選擇與錘煉上頗多可圈可點之處，不僅僅是寫實、抽象的共存，而且也有象征手法、拼貼、跨類融合以及越出架上藝術范圍的有益嘗試，甚至更多地吸收了中國藝術或文化元素?！倍切﹣碜援斀駪?zhàn)亂不息的古絲路沿線國家的作品，比如也門、敘利亞、伊拉克等，更充滿對和平發(fā)展的絲路精神的緬懷、憧憬和夢想，尤其讓人動容。

在北京雙年展策委王鏞眼中，本屆雙年展在藝術上有兩個重要的特征：寫實與浪漫風格交織，趨同與求異趨向并存。“以往外國作品以浪漫風格為主，想象力比較豐富；中國的作品以寫實風格為主，相對來說想象力不夠豐富，缺少浪漫色彩。而本屆北京雙年展的作品中，很多外國作品在發(fā)揮浪漫想象的同時，增加了寫實的刻畫。同時，很多外國作品更多地吸收了中國元素，中國的作品也更多吸收了外國的元素。這說明趨同的傾向與求異的傾向形成了巨大的張力，恰恰是在趨同、求異這種巨大的張力當中迸發(fā)了創(chuàng)作的靈感，激發(fā)了藝術家的幻想。”他說。

一部功率巨大的“引擎”

除主題展外，本屆北京雙年展共設有“格魯吉亞當代藝術特展”“希臘當代藝術特展”“印度尼西亞當代藝術特展”“蒙古國當代藝術特展”“從丁托列托到利蘭加的藝術之旅”“北京雙年展歷屆捐贈作品特展”6個特展。其中不僅有丁托列托、達利這樣閃耀世界美術史的大師力作，還囊括格魯吉亞、希臘、印度尼西亞、蒙古國等各國的近百位當代優(yōu)秀藝術家的扛鼎之作，遴選自500多件北京雙年展藏品的幾十件歷屆各國捐贈作品，也能讓觀眾一睹歷屆北京雙年展展品的精彩篇章。

“絲路精神與題材所喚醒的想象力與美學渴望，源源不斷地轉化為藝術家們創(chuàng)建新形式、新語言的實踐。趨同與求異兩種傾向之間的巨大張力，產生了東西方藝術交流融合而又異彩紛呈的壯麗景象?？梢哉f，這些參展作品本身就是世界文明交流互鑒的結果，就是東西方文明在絲路題材上交流融合的藝術表現?！眲⒋鬄檎f。北京雙年展國際策展人、加拿大策展人齊妮亞·貝尼沃爾斯基認為：“絲路與世界文明”的核心是東西方的連通；絲路關注的是溝通和互相連接，而且也需要互相關注以及互相促進——它是一種非殖民化的溝通。

絲路的歷史和現實題材歷來都非常充沛鮮活，沿路各國在共商、共建、共享的實踐中，在實現民心相通的過程中所涉及的國際友誼、民族交往和文化融合的深度故事皆可以入畫。“本屆參展作品比起傳統(tǒng)的再現手法，美術家們似乎更愿將主題視作文化符號來加以建構，而不單純發(fā)思古之幽情。絲路精神與題材所喚醒的想象力與美學渴望正源源不斷地轉化為藝術家們創(chuàng)建新形式、新語言的實踐。由此所展現出的象征、隱喻、寓言的意味，將觀眾帶進無盡的遐想。在那里，絲路將被幻化為巨大而深邃的民族史詩，將蘊含在其中的精神一一呈現訴說。”中國美協副秘書長、北京雙年展策委陶勤說。

為方便民眾觀展，本屆北京雙年展特別設置了一些很暖心的環(huán)節(jié)：加大展簽尺寸、增加作品說明等中英文導覽信息；特意選取部分有關絲路風光、交通工具、駱駝等內容的作品圖像制成休息區(qū)凳子的座套，使觀眾在觀看以外還能通過如此“可觀可坐”的方式和作品產生奇妙的接觸與互動；同時設置“我眼中的北京雙年展”微印相明信片互動環(huán)節(jié)，觀眾可以將作品拍照免費制作成國際通用的郵資明信片并現場郵往包括“一帶一路”國家在內的世界各地，與遠方的朋友分享自己眼中的北京雙年展。

黃河之水天上來——壺口大瀑印象（布面油畫）嚴雋泰The Water of Yellow River Comes from Heaven—Impression of Hukou Waterfall (Oil on Canvas) by YAN Juntai

“今日歡聚，盡情展示和交流；明朝分別，滿載喜悅和友情。”李屹說。這正是15年北京雙年展達成的7次交流“盛景”。作為制度性的展覽，北京雙年展只有堅持才是勝利，威尼斯雙年展堅持了一百多年，所以它在世界藝術領域的話語權和選擇權無可比擬。中國美協駐會副主席兼秘書長、北京雙年展總策劃徐里介紹，從最近幾屆來看，參加者最多的是美國和法國等歐美國家，所以展覽不僅是對第三世界的國家產生影響，還已經影響到西方發(fā)達國家。正如媒體所言，北京雙年展作為一部功率巨大的“引擎”，無疑會牽動未來中國乃至世界的美術格局，讓藝術的感染力超越時空、跨越國界，“各美其美，美人之美，美美與共，天下大同”，其獨特的影響力必將在延續(xù)不斷的運作中持續(xù)凸顯出來。——我們都是從古老的游牧時代一路走來，經歷了絲路上的艱難與辛勞，也享受著成就與榮耀，磨礪出了開拓精神與堅韌性格，使友好與互通成為我們彼此心之所向。有了這個基礎，“一帶一路”必定行穩(wěn)而至遠，連接起屬于我們的命運共同體。

“It was in September of the year 2002, 15 years ago and also here in NAMOC that the first Beijing International Art Biennale (BIAB) was presented to the world. In the past 15 years, BIAB has achieved an outstanding result in the focus of Chinese people and the people all over the world. As its initiator and undertaker in the process, I have witnessed its development and growth.” Liu Dawei, president of China Artists Association(CAA) reviewed BIAB at the opening ceremony of the 7thBIAB.This year is the 15thanniversary of BIAB. 15 years mean a gradual growth of nearly 5500 days for BIAB, an event under the mechanism of two-year frequency while this period is only a short instant in the stream of history. From September 24 till October 15, the 7thBIAB, jointly sponsored by CFLAC, Beijing Municipality and CAA, with the theme of “The Silk Road and World Civilizations”, was held at NAMOC in Beijing. Consisting of 601 artworks by 567 artists from 102 countries of five continents,including 190 artworks from China and 411 artworks from abroad,this exhibition marked a significant milestone in its 15 years of evolution, with extensive coverage of contemporary painting,sculpture, installation, video and other multi-medias.

Magnif i cent Chapter of Visual Arts

Over 600 artworks with varied styles have highlighted an unprecedented worldwide passion in echoing the theme “The Silk Road and World Civilization” of this BIAB. For the first time in BIAB’s history, the total number of its participant countries has surpassed 100 and BIAB has become the first fine art exhibition that affracts over 100 participant countries in the world so far,both of which indicate an increasing international reputation,influence and attraction of BIAB. For the first time, Central Africa,Guinea, Honduras, Maldives, Palestine, Panama, Seychelles,Tanzania and Yemen became the participant countries of BIAB.

“In the autumn of 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping, through his observation of the trend of global development and in accordance with the tide of international cooperation, put forward the initiative of establishing the ‘Silk Road’ economic belt and 21stCentury Maritime Silk Road, ie, ‘B&R’ Initiative. In the past 4 years, gaining active support and extensive participation from over 100 countries and international organizations, this initiative has gradually become concrete action in the reality with well-seen achievements. In this May, ‘B&R’ International Cooperation Summit was successfully held in Beijing where distinguished guests from more than 100 countries gathered to discuss future development plans in an unprecedented way and with fruitful concensus.” LI Yi, executive vice president of CFLAC expressed, “The Silk Road Spirit will provide a more solid foundation and a more spacious platform for BIAB with powerful vitality, inclusiveness and reflectior of the times”.

Among the first to comprehend the essence of the “B&R”Initiative, Chinese artists have given a brilliant reply to the theme“The Silk Road and World Civilizations” with works extensive in subjects, diverse in forms and varied in techniques. “Under the brush of Chinese artists, be it a bright moon high above the ancient path vibrating with the sound of Sanskrit, or medical aid teams to Africa; be it the mystic Lamp Festival and Shehuo (a kind of folk performance during the Spring Festival) in Kushui County, or micro-life in today’s metropolises; be it “unfettered”and “symbiosis”, or high-speed trains across Eurasia; be it a compass, or a panorama of Maritime Silk Road, all tell the story of mutual exchange and common development as witnessed by the Silk Road, the most ancient and long-drawn road in the world. On the site of these works, the charm of ancient path intertwines with the vigor of the age, which generates a tempting aroma permeating into the sky of history, and then into people's hearts like a fresh wind. In comparison to traditional techniques of representation, it seems that the artists prefer to frame their works with cultural codes so that the overflowing symbols, metaphors and allegories may draw their audience into a realm of meditation and reverie where the Silk Road is turned into a profound national epic, and the inherent truths of the Silk Road unveil themselves one by one. In the remote Nomadic Age, the Chinese nation had already become the founder of international order, when the trials and tribulations as well as achievements and honors by and by molded a pioneering spirit and tenacious character in the Chinese people. It is on this basis that the Belt and Road Initiative is drawn, with steady and promising progress.” ZHANG Xiaoling, a domestic curator of BIAB commented.

What should be mentioned in particular was that the organizing committee this BIAB gathered some Chinese artists to complete two giant theme artworks within a limited time in order to make up for the possible vacancy of the large-scale “B&R” artworks.One is a 6-meter-long traditional Chinese painting A New Chapter of the Maritime Silk Road by ZHENG Baizhong and the other is a 8-meter-long joint production The New Chapter of the Silk Road by FENG Lumin and other three Chinese artists.

As for the participant artworks by foreign artists, their gala of excellent works has constituted a dazzling chapter of visual arts as well. Some are large-scale paintings with either magnificent landscapes of cultural sanctuaries in connection of the Silk Road or a unified atmosphere of integration and expansion in abstract presentation while others are tiny sketches of either romantic expressions or filmy beauty filled with poetic aftertaste. “Some artists employ a method similar to Montage which patch and put together the Eastern and Western backgrounds, sages or cultural symbols to strike their audience with a sense of vagueness and realness. Some remake classic pictures with slight embellishments for legendary effects. This BIAB shows many commendable points of artists in their selection and polishing of artistic languages. There are not only coexistence of realism and abstraction, but also meaningful attempts at symbolism, collage,cross-category fusion and those beyond the scope of easel art,including bold absorption of artistic and cultural elements of China.” DING Ning, a domestic curator of BIAB uttered. Those artworks from such turbulent countries along this ancient Silk Road as Yemen, Syria and Iraq are immersed with longing,expectation and dream for a peaceful development in the spirits of the Silk Road, which has deeply touched Chinese audiences.

In terms of manifold artistic expressions, a marked feature of the works on show is a mixture of realistic and romantic styles and coexistence of integration and difference. “Foreign works in previous BIABs inclined to be romantic and full of imagination,while domestic works in general tended to be realistic and comparatively lacking in imagination and romantic sense. In the 7thBIAB, there are more realistic depictions found in romantic foreign works, and more romantic elements in realistic domestic works. In other words, works both at home and abroad show a mixture of realistic and romantic styles, only the emphases differ.Compared to works in previous BIABs, foreign works in this BIAB have taken in more Chinese elements, and Chinese works more foreign ones. There is inclination of convergence. In the meantime, each retains its distinct local features and traditions.In between the tendencies of seeking common grounds and reserving differences has formed a huge space of development which has aroused artists’ imagination as inspiration for their artistic creation.” WANG Yong, a domestic curator of BIAB concluded.

A Powerful Engine of Fine Arts

Besides the theme exhibition,six special exhibitions, namely the “Special Exhibition of Contemporary Art of Georgia”,the “Special Exhibition of Contemporary Art of Greece”,the “Special Exhibition of Contemporary Art of Indonesia”,the “Special Exhibition of contemporary Art of Mongolia”,the “Tour of Art from Tintoretto to Lilanga” and the “Special Exhibition of Donated Artworks from Previous BIABs”, took place as scheduled. Brilliant masterpieces by Tintoretto and Dali, outstanding artworks by nearly 100 artists from Georgia,Greece, Indonesia and Mongolia as well as selected dozens of works among more than 500 donated pieces enabled the audiences to appreciate excellent chapters in the history of BIAB in all sessions.

“The spirits and subjects of the Silk Road have aroused enormous imagination and aesthetic inspiration that unceasingly evolves into artists’ practice of novel formality and language in arts. Moreover, the tendency of seeking common grounds and reserving differences is a huge space of development which gives rise to a splendid scene where the Eastern and Western arts integrate but each is unique on its own. It is safe to say that the works on exhibition themselves are the outcome of exchange and mutual learning among world civilizations, and that they are artistic expressions of the Eastern and Western civilizations in their mutual exchange and convergence on the theme of the Silk Road,” LIU Dawei commented. As Xenia Benivolski, an international curator of BIAB from Canada, held, the core of‘The Silk Road and World Civilizations” is the connection of the East and the West and thus by Silk Road we should focus on communications and mutual exchanges under the prerequisite of reciprocal focus and benefit as non-colonial communication.As the historical and current situations of the Silk Road always involve plentiful interesting topics, those in-depth stories of international friendship, national communication and cultural integration in the process of mutual negotiation, construction and sharing between the countries along the Silk Road can be painted in artworks. “Compared to the traditional representation approach, the participant artists in this BIAB seem to prefer to take the theme as a cultural token in their creations instead of mourning for the days of yore. The spirits and subjects of the Silk Road have aroused enormous imagination and aesthetic inspiration that unceasingly evolves into artists’ practice of novel formality and language in arts. The implication from the subsequent symbolism, metaphor and fable has brought the audience into boundless imagination where the Silk Road has become a giant and profound epic with narrations of its spirits one after another,” TAO Qin, a domestic curator of BIAB and deputy secretary general of CAA remarked.

For the audiences’ convenience, this BIAB designed some considerate details in particular such as size expansion of exhibits tags and Chinese-English captions for each exhibit. Moreover,some images of landscape, transportation such as camels along the Silk Road were printed on the covers of chairs in the rest area so that audiences could have a magic touch and interaction with those typical Silk Road expressions. In the meanwhile, an interesting game of “BIAB in My Eyes”, i. e, postal card made of mini photos, was created so that audiences could make an international postal card with the pictures they took in the venue of BIAB and send it worldwide, including “B&R” countries, so as to share BIAB with their remote friends.

今年又上帕米爾（中國畫·紙本彩墨） 史國良Pamir Revisited (Ink and Color on Paper) by SHI Guoliang

“We gather today to showcase and communicate to our utmost while we bid goodbye tomorrow full of joy and friendship.” LI Yi, executive vice president of CFLAC concluded. Indeed, it has become an invariably touching scene of those 7 editions of BIAB in the past 15 years. As an institutionalized event, only continuity in BIAB is a true victory. It is only the legendary continuity of over a century that has endowed Venice Biennale with unparalleled power in discourse and choice in the global art arena. As XU Li, executive vice president and secretary general of CAA introduced, artists from such European and American countries as USA and France have become the majority among participants of the recent sessions of BIAB and therefore the influence of BIAB has reached the developed countries in the West as well as the developing countries. As acclaimed by some media, BIAB has evolved into a powerful engine that will enable artistic appeal to transcend time and boundary, and cause great change, in the fine arts layout of China and even the world. As Chinese aesthetics,among varied civilizations around the world, stress on artistic diversity as well as respect and harmony. its unique influence will continuously function in the ongoing process of BIAB.Having traveled since the ancient period of nomadism, undergone the hardship and toil all along the Silk Road, and enjoyed achievement and glory, Chinese people have established their own enterprising spirit and character of perseverance, and realized the common desire for friendship and mutual communications. On such a basis, “B&R” Initiative will witness a stable and sustainable development in connection with our common destiny community.

絲路舞者（雕塑）塔蒂阿娜·密特拉Dancer of the Silk Road (Sculpture) by Tatiana Mitra

佛朗哥-弗蘭克-弗朗茨-弗朗西斯科-弗朗西斯（赤土陶器）彼得·貝文（選自“北京雙年展歷屆捐贈作品特展”）Franco-Frank-Franz-Francisco-Francois (Terracotta) by Peter Bevan (from the Special Exhibition of Donated Artworks from Previous BIABs)