In 2020, during my final year of college, I was constantly pondering the true meaning of education. Between January and March of that year, I interviewed 30 individuals from diverse industries and educational backgrounds to gather their thoughts and opinions on the topic of education, with a particular focus on the differences between the Chinese and American education systems. Drawing from my own educational experiences, I’ve become acutely attuned to the varying degrees of liberty and constraints within different systems. This exploration has led me to ponder: how profoundly does education influence the course of our lives?

 

2020年，当时正值我大四毕业之际，对教育意义的思考一直萦绕在我的脑海。从一月到三月，我采访了30个来自不同行业以及不同教育背景的人，询问他们对于中美教育的看法。作为一个经受过多重文化教育背景洗礼的人，我希望以艺术的表现形式探索中美教育系统中的自由与限制。如黑色与白色交织成一幅素描一般，自由与限制这两个概念是如何交叠继而塑造我们的生活的？ 

 

Expanding upon the notion of constraints, I've crafted a series of artworks comprising black and white photographs capturing the dynamic between vendors and customers at the meat market (Photographs taken in January 2020, Hainan). These images are complemented by textual pieces that engage with and respond to the visual narratives. The interplay between the visual and textual elements is, in many respects, more symbolic than literal, and often carries an antagonistic undertone, mirroring the societal imposition of cultural norms and restrictions on individual behavior.

 

The deliberate choice to present the works in black and white serves as a symbolic gesture. Just as the absence of black would render the white undefined, the absence of text would alter the perception of the photographs. This duality underscores the interconnectedness and dependence of the visual and textual components. Ultimately, through these layered relationships, I aim to convey that beneath the surface of what is readily visible lies an untold narrative. A complete understanding necessitates an appreciation of both sides; the presence of constraints can illuminate the value of freedom and vice versa.

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在自由之上围绕「限制」这个主题，我创作了《肉市场》这个影像作品，将黑白摄影图像与采访和反思的文本相结合。文字和影像相辅相成互相赋义，某种程度上也象征着文化背景给人类行为带来的影响与限制。选择黑白摄影，一方面想要呈现黑白二色的互补性，另一方面也映衬着文字与图片互相衬托的关系。围绕着这些对比关系，我想要通过《肉市场》呈现世界的相对性和复杂性，表象与真实的错位，限制与自由的不绝对。

 

The marketplace inherently addresses our physiological needs—a space where individuals gather to fulfill their everyday necessities, while vendors earn their livelihoods. This symbiotic relationship fosters a sense of stability within the community at large. Through my photographs, I endeavor to capture the nuances of human interaction, particularly focusing on the extent to which individuals are willing to divulge within specific environments. When confronted with constraints, people often become more attuned to their choice of words and actions, cognizant of how these choices shape their reality.

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《肉市场》从最基本的生理需求出发探索「自由与限制」这个主题。在肉市场中，商贩和消费者通过买卖交换满足各自的饱腹之欲，而这种互惠关系也是构成稳定社会的结构之一。在拍摄这组作品之时，我刻意地想要捕捉商贩以及消费者的神情，展现在特定情境下，双方是如何有选择性地表达和交涉，以达到彼此满意的成交结果。

 

When individuals confront profound restrictions in their lives, they are prompted to reflect on their genuine needs. Gratitude often blossoms when one becomes cognizant of the act of receiving. Life is replete with gray areas and inherent ambiguities that we must acknowledge, given our shared humanity. Exposure to contrasting experiences, akin to witnessing both black and white, fosters clarity in defining each. This clarity, in turn, facilitates acceptance of the nuances within the gray. Consequently, the photography series concludes with a thematic exploration of love—an embrace of inclusivity and acceptance. Love embodies the amalgamation of opposites, encompassing actions and words, negatives and positives, in its inherent ordinariness.

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最基本的生活需求收限会激发人类对于需求和自由的思考与认知，也会对拥有的事物更加充满感恩之心。世界并非非黑即白，但经历过黑白极端或许会让我们更好地定义黑白，理解和接受灰色与混沌。这个作品选择以爱结束，因为爱会愿意探索、理解、接受，透过表象去体会语言和行为背后的真情实感。

 

Published in May 2020, and edited in April 2024 

发表于2020年五月，编辑于2024年四月

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Description edited by Lu Zhao 

赵璐是本段简介的文字编辑