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Public Art: Thinking Outside the Art Gallery 公共艺术：生活即艺术

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

To experience the mastery of shape and form, or appreciate an iconic piece of art, you don’t have to visit an art gallery. Just go for a walk outside, and you’ll see that art is everywhere. From parks, to train stations, to city sidewalks, the world is fast becoming one big exhibition of public art.

若要体验大师诠释物形之美或欣赏经典的艺术作品，您不必亲自造访画廊，只要外出走走，便可以发现艺术就在身旁。从公园、火车站到市区步道，世界正迅速化身为公共艺术的大型展场。

The earliest form of public art in cities were statues and memorials – tributes to political figures, war heroes or gods and goddesses. Statues still abound today, but public art has evolved to include a broad spectrum that can stimulate the senses. By taking art beyond the confines of the art gallery, public art is brought closer to what inspires it: real, everyday life.

都会区最早期的公共艺术多半是为了纪念政治人物、战争英雄或男女众神而设的雕像及纪念碑。虽然现今雕像仍四处可见，但是公共艺术已演变为涵括任何能刺激官觉的事物。在艺术打破画廊的藩篱之下，公共艺术也更贴近其创作灵感的来源：真实平凡的日常生活。

Sometimes public art takes pre-existing structures and forces us to look at them in another way. That’s exactly what European duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude struck out to do when they ambitiously began wrapping up some well-known landmarks, such as the German Reichstag, just like Christmas presents. In Barcelona, Spain, art lies right under your feet. Walking to the middle of the old city, you’ll find a large circular mosaic by one of the city’s most renowned artists, Joan Miro. The bold red, blue and yellow tiles reflect Barcelona’s clear sky, warm sunshine, and the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

有时，公共艺术利用既存的建物，逼使一般大众从不同的角度欣赏它们。这正是来自欧洲的克里斯多与珍妮．克劳德夫妇（译注：为世界知名的地景艺术家）突破传统，将德国柏林国会大厦等著名景点包装成耶诞礼物的用意。在西班牙的巴塞隆纳，艺术即在脚下。走进旧城的市中心，您会看到由巴塞隆纳市最知名的艺术家米罗所创作的巨幅圆形马赛克。鲜艳的红、蓝、黄三色马赛克瓷砖，映现巴塞隆纳的清朗天空、和煦阳光及地中海的湛蓝海水。

Although public art is a relatively new concept in Taiwan, it has caught on quickly. The percent-for-art program, which states that one percent of the national budget must be spent on art, became law in 1992.

虽然公共艺术在台湾仍属相当新颖的观念，这股风潮却已迅速蔓延开来。1992年正式通过的「百分比艺术项目」条款便有规定，百分之一的国家经费需用于设置艺术品之用。

Vocabulary

单词发音

gallery [ˋgælərɪ] n. 画廊，美术馆

exhibition [͵ɛksəˋbɪʃən] n. 展览

tribute [ˋtrɪbjut] n. 敬意

abound [əˋbaʊnd] v. 大量存在

evolve [ɪˋvɑlv] v. 发展；进化

stimulate [ˋstɪmjə͵let] v. 刺激；激励

strike out 想出; 做成; 设计  to begin moving or acting with energy or determination

ambitiously [æmˋbɪʃəslɪ] adv. 雄心勃勃地

renowned [rɪˋnaʊnd] adj. 有名的；有声誉的

concept [ˋkɑnsɛpt] n. 概念，观念

budget [ˋbʌdʒɪt] n. 预算，经费

More Information

单词发音

mastery [ˋmæstərɪ] n. 熟练；精通 great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity

confine [kənˋfaɪn] n. 限度；范围

pre-existing [͵priɪgˋzɪstɪŋ] adj. 早已存在的

duo [ˋduo] n. 二人组; 两人的搭档

wrap up 包裹  pack

mosaic [məˋzeɪk] n. 马赛克

Mediterranean  [͵mɛdətəˋrenɪən] adj. 地中海的

课文讲解

In Taipei, great art lies around every corner, providing an unexpected but welcome feast for the senses. At the NTU Hospital MRT station is a series of four bronze sculptures entitled Suite of Hands. The interlocking hands display the theme of unity, while the hand that cradles a lotus flower gives a sense of peace and protection. As an added bonus, weary commuters can also sit and rest on the hands. As artist Lee Kuang-Yu said, “No one should be lonely, frustrated and uncomfortable, but calm, clear and warm with love.”

在台北，随处可见优秀的艺术作品，提供令人惊艳的美感飨宴。捷运台大医院站有一组名为「手之组曲」的四件式铜雕作品。紧扣的双手传达合而为一的理念，持有莲花的手则象征和平与守护。除了欣赏之外，疲惫的通勤者也可以坐在手上休息。正如创作者李光裕所说：「世界上不应有人孤独、沮丧或是难过，每个人都应平和、清明并有爱的照拂。」

From the comforting to the humorous, public art in Taipei exhibits a wide range of styles. For evidence of this, just head to the Zebra Crossing of Time. At the intersection of Dunhua S. Road and Civic Blvd. sit the hindquarters of a zebra. Crossing the street is kind of like walking through the body of a zebra. Pedestrians become part of the artwork.

从抚慰人心到幽默风趣，台北的公共艺术展现多样风情。欲一探究竟，不妨前往「时间斑马线」，斑马的后半身就座落在敦化南路与市民大道交叉口。过马路宛如穿越斑马的身体，行人也成为这件艺术作品的一部份。

Public art is also flourishing in Kaohsiung. Urban Spotlight in Central Park lights up the night sky with radiant lights from the trees above and the terrace below. Being bathed in the colorful lights, people sip coffee at an open-air café, and feel relaxed hearing the sound of live music drifting through the night air.

公共艺术在高雄也蓬勃发展。位于中央公园的「城市光廊」便利用上方树木及地上露台的耀眼灯光将夜空照得一片璀璨。置身于绚烂灯海中，民众享用露天咖啡，闲适地听着夜风中悠扬的现场演奏乐音。

Living in the urban jungle can sometimes be overwhelming. So we have taken it upon ourselves to create beauty within our cities. Public art not only softens the harsh city landscape, but also enriches our lives.

都市丛林的生活有时难免令人透不过气，因此人们致力在都市内开创美感的氛围。公共艺术不仅柔和了硬冷的都市景观，同时丰富了我们的生活。

−by Joe Henley

Vocabulary

单词发音

unexpected [͵ʌnɪkˋspɛktɪd] adj. 意外的；突如其来的

entitle [ɪnˋtaɪt!] v. 给〔书﹑剧等〕命名﹐起名

bonus [ˋbonəs] n.【口】额外给予的东西，额外的好处

weary [ˋwɪrɪ] adj. 疲倦的

intersection [͵ɪntɚˋsɛkʃən] n. 十字路口

flourishing [ˋflɝɪʃɪŋ] adj. 繁茂的,隆盛的,繁荣的

spotlight [ˋspɑt͵laɪt] n. 聚光灯; 公众注意的中心

radiant [ˋredjənt] adj. 光芒四射的；明亮照耀的

bath [bæθ] v. 沐浴

drift [drɪft] v. 飘移; 漂流

enrich [ɪnˋrɪtʃ] v. 使丰富

More Information

单词发音

feast [fist] n.（感官等方面的）享受，赏心乐事

bronze [brɑnz] adj. 青铜制的

interlock [͵ɪntɚˋlɑk] v. 相互扣住

cradle [ˋkred!] n. 摇篮

comforting [ˋkʌmfɚtɪŋ] adj. 令人欣慰的

humorous [ˋhjumərəs] adj. 幽默的，诙谐的

Blvd (Boulevard [ˋbulə͵vɑrd]) n. 大马路

hindquarter [ˋhaɪndˋkwɔrtɚ] n.（牛、羊、猪）后腿及臀部

pedestrian [pəˋdɛstrɪən] n. 步行者，行人

terrace [ˋtɛrəs] n.（庭院中的）露台

open-air [ˋopənˋɛr] adj. 露天的

overwhelming [͵ovɚˋhwɛlmɪŋ] adj. 令人迷惘而不知所措的 so strong as to be irresistible

take it upon oneself to (do something) 擅自决定做某事; 致力  make it one's business to (do something); to decide one will take responsibility to do something

soften [ˋsɔfn] v. 变柔和

harsh [hɑrʃ] adj. 刺耳的; 刺眼的

Reading Questions

1.  What does the word “appreciate” in the first paragraph probably mean?

A.  To ignore easily.

B.  To value highly.

C.  To purchase cheaply.

D.  To design carefully.

2.  Which of the following description of Zebra Crossing of Time is true?

A.  It depicts the whole body of a zebra.

B.  It shows only the front of a zebra.

C.  Pedestrians can involve themselves in it.

D.  Commuters can sit on it and take a rest.

3.  Which of the following is NOT true about public art in Taiwan?

A.  The government devotes a portion of its yearly spending to art.

B.  It can be found in busy transportation centers and in quiet outdoor locations.

C.  It is a traditional form of art dating back several centuries.

D.  Its styles are widely varied, from relaxing lights to funny sculptures.

4.  According to this article, what is the main purpose of public art?

A.  To bring more tourism dollars to the cities.

B.  To put an end to traditional art galleries.

C.  To beautify our cities and make our lives better.

D.  To provide more lighting in our cities.

Dona i Ocell, 1982, Barcelona, Spain

Suite of Hands

Answer