艺术家专访丨流浪在塔斯马尼亚

Artist Biography

Q：作为一个艺术家，你通常怎么定义“艺术家”的身份？

As an artist, how do you typically define the identity of an "artist"?

Liu：所有的身份都是一种认同，由自我认同和外界认同一起构成。很多时候，我们的自我认同和外界认同会发生矛盾，这是不可避免的。在这种矛盾不可调和时，坚持是唯一的选择。

当代社会对艺术家的定义是很割裂的，而我一直认为，“艺术家”是一种内心的自我追逐，一种以艺术为主的生活方式。外界的认同并不占据很重要的成分，这是所有艺术家都必须具备的心理素质。

艺术作品作为承载思想与历史的一种媒介，艺术家本人是观察者，是创作者，是思想的桥梁，是对自我的折断再拼接，是通过向内求索来思考人性。这是一条通向自我的征途，只有足够坚定，才能心无旁骛抵达终点。

All identities are a form of recognition, comprised of both self-identification and external validation. Often, there's a conflict between how we see ourselves and how others perceive us, which is unavoidable. In moments of irreconcilable conflict, perseverance becomes the only choice.

The contemporary definition of an artist in society is quite fragmented. However, I've always believed that being an "artist" is an inner pursuit, a lifestyle centered around art. External validation doesn't play a significant role; it's a psychological quality that all artists must possess.

Artworks serve as a medium for conveying ideas and history. The artist themselves act as observers, creators, bridges of thought, and reconstructors of the self. Through introspection, they contemplate humanity. It's a journey towards self-realization, and only with steadfast determination can one reach the destination without distraction.

Q：看过你这七年来的故事，你有曾否想过这些时光是你的作品？

Have you ever considered that your life story, including the past seven years, could be seen as your own artwork?

Liu：

这些时光成就我的作品。

仅仅是生活经历本身不足以成为我的作品，我更愿意通过这些经历，以自己的艺术语言提炼表达出来。

These times have shaped my artwork.

Mere life experiences alone aren't sufficient to be considered my artwork; I prefer to distill and express them through my artistic language.

Q：作为一个艺术家的坚持，你觉得这些年最困难的是什么？

As an artist, what do you consider to be the most challenging aspect of perseverance over these years?

Liu：

最困难的是自我和社会之间产生的碰撞和矛盾。

我依然记得当我在一个野生公园里扎帐篷，第二天醒来在附近走动，旁边是一所小学，他们课间看到我，就围在我旁边，大声叫我怪物。

这七年中我曾经因为自己的选择而落魄无比，喝雨水，捡路边的动物尸体烤着吃，从垃圾箱里找面包，在河里洗澡，睡在树林里。这些具体的苦难也很有趣，很多时候我会乐在其中。所以我认为，经济对我来说不算是最困难的事情，我可以忍受大部分，并且坚持整整两年。

但是当我向世界展现自我，以艺术家的身份参与社会生产活动，却被拒绝忽视时，这对我来说是一种毁灭性打击。对自我的质疑，对梦想的质疑，对人生的质疑，让我很多夜晚无法入睡。

The most challenging aspect has been the collision and contradiction between myself and society.

I still remember when I pitched my tent in a wild park and woke up the next day to walk around nearby. There was an elementary school nearby, and when the students saw me during their break, they gathered around me, loudly calling me a monster.

Over these seven years, I have experienced immense hardship due to my choices. I've drank rainwater, roasted and eaten roadside animal carcasses, scavenged bread from garbage bins, bathed in rivers, and slept in forests. These specific hardships were also quite intriguing, and many times I found solace in them. Therefore, I don't consider economic struggles to be the most difficult aspect for me. I can endure most of it and persisted for a solid two years.

However, when I tried to present myself to the world, participating in societal activities as an artist, only to be rejected or ignored, it dealt a devastating blow. The questioning of myself, my dreams, and my life kept me awake on many nights.

Q：你追求艺术的道路上，曾有什么恐惧的和难以放弃的吗？

On your artistic journey, have there been any fears or challenges that were difficult to overcome?

Liu：

我恐惧或许我就将这样碌碌无为一生，直到生命结束前，都无法实现自己在这个世界上的意义与使命。

我一直不能放弃我的梦想，我的意义，我的追求。除此之外任何物质我都可以放弃。哪怕是体面与尊严。

I fear that I might lead a life of mediocrity, unable to fulfill my purpose and mission in this world until the end of my days.

I've never been able to abandon my dreams, my purpose, my pursuits. Beyond these, I can let go of anything material, even dignity and respect.

Q：去森林流浪，有没有遇到过困难或者危险，你是怎么抗过来的？

Have you encountered any difficulties or dangers while wandering in the forest, and how did you overcome them?

Liu：

困难都是不方便带来的，日常生活比如洗澡，做饭，洗衣服，下雨，下霜，都是每天都需要面对的困难，每天都不一样。我经常会换不同的地方露营扎帐篷，很多时候一天的车程之后，到达目的地就已经天黑了，还要生火，做饭，洗碗…很多时候下雨，没有干燥的木头可以捡来用，就要度过一个十分寒冷饥饿的夜晚。那些时候我从没有离自己如此近过，当我脱离了社会文明以后，我的力量是那样渺小，我该如何实现心中的坚持？日日夜夜我无法逃避内心的扣问。

危险的话大概就是各种毒蛇和毒蜘蛛，在昆士兰北部还有鳄鱼袭击帐篷的危险。我曾经很多次离毒蛇只有半步的距离，进一步就是死亡，还在采野菜的时候被马蜂叮咬过，整只脚肿了两个星期，动也动不了，我也被迫在那片森林里呆了整整两个星期…在森林里漫步的时候被蚂蟥爬满了全身，还同时被20只蜱虫叮咬过，大脑出现兴奋和眩晕感…

所有的危险推着我向前走，让我不断自省，剥离一层又一层的枷锁，不停问自己，如果我连死亡和危险都不怕，那个文明社会里究竟隐藏了什么庞然怪物，让我如此害怕向它证明自己？

我没有找到答案，这样的生活我就将一直选择下去。

Difficulties always come inconveniently. Daily tasks like bathing, cooking, doing laundry, facing rain, frost, are challenges encountered daily, each day being different. I often camp and pitch my tent in various places, and many times, after a day's journey by car, when I arrive at the destination, it's already dark. I still need to make fire, cook, wash dishes... Many times when it rains and there's no dry wood to pick up, I have to endure a very cold and hungry night. At those times, I've never felt closer to myself. When I'm detached from societal civilization, my strength feels so small. How can I uphold my beliefs? Day and night, I can't escape the questioning within myself.

As for dangers, there are various poisonous snakes and spiders, and in northern Queensland, there's also the danger of crocodile attacks on tents. I've been just half a step away from poisonous snakes many times. One step further would mean death. I've also been stung by wasps while picking wild vegetables, and my whole foot swelled for two weeks, immobilizing me, forcing me to stay in that forest for a full two weeks... While walking in the forest, I've been covered in leeches and bitten by 20 ticks simultaneously, causing excitement and dizziness in my brain...

All these dangers push me forward, forcing me to reflect, stripping away layer after layer of shackles, constantly asking myself, if I'm not afraid of death and danger, what monstrous entity does the civilized society hide that makes me so afraid to prove myself to it?

I haven't found an answer, so I will continue to choose this way of life.

Q：在澳洲碰壁的经历，对你的艺术观念有什么影响？

How did the setbacks you encountered in Australia affect your artistic beliefs?

Liu：

说到影响，大概是将我从过去自我陶醉，自说自话的泡泡中逼迫了出来。我更加客观地评价自己的艺术语言和艺术表达，以及艺术核心。我曾经羞于向他人谈及自己的画作，对我来说，每一幅作品都是我的内心，我不愿意公示与人接受各种评判，也总是用各种技巧在画面中隐晦的抒发内心。

被拒绝之后，我最担心的事情发生了。对我来说，这不仅仅是一次机会的失去，更意味着对我整个人的否定。我落荒而逃，无法面对。像我之前提到过的，身份认同分为两种，一种来自内心，一种来自社会。我太过重视来自外部的认可，步履维艰。直到我被逼着直视自己的内心。

我当然可以在野外中无限生存下去，这对我来说不是一种困难。可我也将把每天的大多数时间花在生活中非常基本的事情上，远没有时间和空间进行我的艺术创作。我必须要有所取舍。

要么正视内心深处的恐惧，要么汲汲一生。

再回到社会，我的艺术创作观念和技法发生了很大的转变。我不再隐晦，而是激烈，粗糙直白地去表达一切我的感受。我不再是我自己，我是灵感通过的器皿。我是空的，没有恐惧的，任何灵感都可通过我，百分百地倾泻在我的作品里。没有羞耻，没有难堪，只有畏惧。

Speaking of impact, it probably forced me out of the bubble of self-indulgence and self-talk in the past. I evaluate my artistic language, expression, and core more objectively. I used to be shy about discussing my paintings with others. For me, each piece of work represents my inner self, and I was reluctant to expose it to judgment. I always used various techniques to express my inner feelings subtly in the artwork.

After being rejected, my worst fear came true. For me, it wasn't just the loss of an opportunity but also a denial of my entire being. I fled in despair, unable to face it. As I mentioned earlier, identity comes from two sources: internal and societal. I placed too much emphasis on external recognition, making progress difficult. Until I was forced to confront my inner self.

Certainly, I could survive indefinitely in the wilderness, which wasn't a challenge for me. However, I would spend most of my time on very basic aspects of life, leaving little time and space for my artistic creation. I had to make a choice.

Either confront the fears deep within or live in perpetual pursuit.

Returning to society, my artistic concepts and techniques underwent significant changes. I no longer hid but expressed everything I felt intensely, roughly, and directly. I'm no longer myself; I'm a vessel through which inspiration flows. I am empty, without fear, allowing any inspiration to flow through me, pouring into my work a hundred percent. There's no shame, no embarrassment, only fear.

Q：你的任何一个经历可能对于其他人来说都是重大转折，那么对你来说，有没有哪个经历，对你来说是主导你人生方向的转折点，为什么？

Has there been a particular experience in your life that served as a pivotal turning point, shaping the direction of your life? If so, why?