"Your Room": Photography by Yuhan (Rae) Su
採訪編輯 Interview and Edited by｜謝蕎安 Joanne Hsieh
圖文 Image courtesy｜蘇蕊 Rae Su
翻譯 Translated by｜Joyce Lee
台北 Taipei, Taiwan
兩年多前第一次在網路上看見蘇蕊的作品，是被她的《他和她的房間》系列吸引。照片中的女孩（或男孩）不經意地看向鏡頭，或從鏡中凝視自己。畫面像極古典繪畫中，大師筆下的女孩。不同的是，創造出這些影像的藝術家，是位十八歲的少女。攝影並非我的專長，然而用繪畫的語言解析蘇蕊的作品，其中對比明暗、構圖張力、象徵性手法和無聲的對白，都有超出年齡的成熟和細膩。追蹤蘇蕊兩年多，看見她越趨成熟的作品以及擔任劇照側拍攝影師、路邊信手捻來的攝影，每一幅畫面都充滿詩意。她於展演場地「溼地」展出《他和她的房間》不久前結束，最近和瞧瞧藝術分享她的創作理念和心得，期待看見她更多創作。
最喜歡《她和他們的房間》，我最珍惜的系列，珍惜與被攝者的緣分，珍惜這間房間此刻的樣貌
Ｑ：蘇蕊，你好！可以簡單和讀者自我介紹嗎？
Hi Rae, can you tell us a little about yourself?
蘇蕊：「我是蘇郁涵，臺灣桃園人，每次自我介紹都覺得哪裡不對勁，好像自己沒有什麼特別的事情值得介紹，如果找話題我可能會跟你說「你喜歡逛夜市嗎？我很喜歡逛夜市」。最近才比較有勇氣說 “我有在拍照” 。」
My name is Yu-han Su (Rae), I’m from Taoyuan, Taiwan. Every time someone asks me to introduce myself, I feel kind of stuck as if there’s nothing really special to tell. But if I have to find something to talk about with a stranger, I might start with, “Do you like night markets? I really enjoy them.” It’s not until recently that I’m confident enough to tell people that “I take photos.”
Ｑ：何時開始從事影像創作？為何喜歡影像創作？
When did you start using photography as an art form? Why do you like it?
蘇蕊：「國中念美術班，當時下課都在談戀愛，上課不認真畫圖也亂七八糟，今天心情好畫就好，下課跟男友吵架畫就毀了，我很喜歡創作但也因此讓我對畫圖有股壓力，好像怎麼畫都畫不好；國三那年拿家裡的數位相機自拍，把自己塗上紅紅的口紅，覺得自己很酷，而且不用煩惱畫了兩堂課的靜物又自己毀掉，拍照蠻好玩的，後來念高職廣設科有攝影課，讓我有興趣想學拍照，就到現在。」
I was in the fine arts program in junior high school. I spent my time obsessing with boys and paid little attention to school work. During that period, the result of my artwork depended on my relationship — it turned out good when I was in a good mood and turned out horrible if I had a fight with my boyfriend. I really loved to draw, but at the same time drawing was stressful for me because I felt like I needed to be skillful at it. Last year of Junior High, I was taking photos of myself using a digital camera from my house. I put bright red lipstick on, and felt pretty cool. I thought taking photos was fun because unlike drawing, I didn't have to worry about ruining hours of good work. During high school I was in the Advertising Design Program. They offer photography classes and I was interested to learn the trade. I had been taking photos ever since.
我怎麼活作品就成什麼樣
Ｑ：請問『蕊』這個名字的由來？
What’s the origin of your name “Rae?”
蘇蕊：「前面有提到以前學畫畫，有一陣子想當插畫家，看網路上很多插畫家都有英文名字，會經營粉絲專頁，我原本的英文名字很無聊，想重新取一個，跟同學在講電話邊查網路英文名字一覽表，有個「Rae」很中性又很簡單，而且我喜歡拍花，花蕊花蕊，那就叫蕊Rae吧。當時我插畫做了一個粉絲專頁叫「What is Rae?」哈哈哈哈哈！」
When I was studying drawing in school, for a while I wanted to become an illustrator. Many illustrators on the Internet use English names, and run their own creator pages. Thinking I need a cool English name, I set out to find one. I was on the phone with a classmate while looking through English name lists online, when I saw it. “Rae” is simple and seems unisex, and the pronunciation sounded like “flower core” in Chinese. Since I like photographing flowers, I took the name. The fan page I created for my illustrations was called “What is Rae?” which sounded like “I’m flower” in Chinese.
Ｑ：會如何形容自己的創作？
How would you describe your work?
蘇蕊：「我怎麼活作品就成什麼樣。」
My work reflects my life.
想讓觀眾看到我的痛苦是這麼日常，愈痛苦愈要更直視它
Ｑ：可以介紹一下目前創作中的幾個不同系列嗎？自己最喜歡的作品或是系列是哪些？
Can you tell us about the series you’re currently working on?
Which one is your favorite?
蘇蕊：「最喜歡《她和他們的房間》Your room，我最珍惜的系列，珍惜與被攝者的緣分，珍惜這間房間此刻的樣貌，有些房間是租屋，幾年後也許就不在了，連當時養的寵物都有可能不在，那拍照就是一個證據吧，拍下來就能代表曾經存在，也可以從當時接觸到的人們、房間，去說明我當時的生活狀態，我覺得是很有趣的，所以會一直拍下去。
My favorite and most cherished series is Your Room. I treasure the relationship with the subjects, and the way the rooms appear at the moment. Some of the rooms are rentals, and in a few years they might not be the same ever again. Everything will be gone, including the pets that used to live there. So photographing them was like leaving evidence of their existence. I can also look back on the people and rooms I came in contact with, and remember that period of my life. I really enjoy this series, and will continue working on it
大學做過一個作品《我的痛苦》一張黑色板子，上面有我哭的照片跟生活照，我把照片切成好幾小張，想讓觀眾看到我的痛苦是這麼日常，愈痛苦愈要更直視它；觀眾若看了我的作品有感，可以留言給我並直接貼在作品上；展出結束後，我在社群上告訴大家可以用一樣東西來換一張照片，一朵花換一張照片，兩枚硬幣換兩張照片，三張發票換三張照片以此類推；收到不少物件，有前任合照、藥丸、調光器、DVD、他們的作品等等，發現好多人有話是說不出來的，那我們交換，我給你我的日常，你給我你的痛苦，最後我把黑色板子連同沒換出去的照片丟在垃圾場拍了一張照片，這一份痛苦完畢，丟掉了。」
In college I worked on a series called My Suffering. On a large piece of black cardboard, I posted numerous small-sized photographs of my daily life and myself crying. I wanted viewers to see my suffering was on a daily basis. The more painful it felt, the more important it was to face it. Viewers could leave messages to me and post them directly on the board. After the show ended, I announced on social media that people can trade items for my photographs. For example, a flower for a photo, two coins for two photos, three receipts for three photos, etc. I received many different items, like pictures with an ex, pills, a camera dimmer, DVDs, and people’s artwork, etc. I realized many people carried pain they couldn’t tell. So we traded— I gave them a piece of my daily life, and in return they gave me some of their sufferings. In the end, I threw the blackboard and the remaining photographs to the dump and took a picture. And that was the end of that suffering.
「過往拍攝的創作有自己、經血，或一些肢體，但總覺得少了一點什麼；想做的作品是可以一直延伸下去的，比方15歲拍的月經作品跟20歲拍的月經作品做一個比對，或是《我的痛苦》讓某些人產生共鳴，我喜歡這樣，所以還在找一個方式，讓我的創作可以持續執行。 」
Subjects of my pervious works include myself, menstruating blood, or bodies, but I felt something was missing. I want to continue to extend these series, like comparison shots of menstruating blood by 15-year-old me and 20-year-old me, or create work that people can relate to, like My Suffering. This is what I’d like to do, and I’m looking for ways to continue these series.
每天在路上看見的都是靈感
Ｑ：在「他和她的房間」系列中，和被攝者之間如何取得信任？
How are trusts built between the photographer and the subjects for the series Your Room?
蘇蕊：「「就當作愛拍照的同學去你家玩」我會這樣說。不知道他們對我的信任有多少，但如果希望對方信任我，那我必須先信任他。」
I’d tell them (my subjects), “Just think of it as a friend who loves taking pictures is visiting your place.” I don’t know how much they trust me, but to gain their trust, I have to trust them first.
Ｑ：請問在攝影中，畫面靈感來自哪裡？
Where do you find inspirations for the composition of your shots?
蘇蕊：「每天在路上看見的都是靈感。」 Everything I see outside daily is an inspiration.
Ｑ：在『商業』和『藝術』之間如何取得創作的平衡？
How to achieve the balance between “business” and “art?”
蘇蕊：「我也正在學習，在一開始接觸攝影時沒有想過能賺錢，只知道能用攝影來創作，一直到發現可以用攝影賺錢時，才意識到我不太知道怎麼做，我拍的題材好像沒辦法為我帶來能生活的收入。
I’m still learning. When I started to learn photography, I didn’t realize it’s a skill I could use to make money commercially. I only focused on creating art. Now when I think about making money by doing commercial photography, I’m not sure what to do. My subject matters don’t seem the type that can generate enough income to support myself.
Ｑ：可以形容外出工作時的行程嗎？有哪些特殊的工作習慣？
Can you describe your usual routine when you shoot? Do you have any special working habits? (like what kind of music you listen to, a special equipment or lucky charm?)
蘇蕊：「《她和他們的房間》拍到第二年開始，拍照前我會先跟他一起吃飯，就帶我去吃他想吃的，或家裡附近有的，有時候他們還會煮飯給我吃，哈哈！因為我覺得吃這件事情可以快速認識彼此，至少我在吃的時候能很放鬆，拍照前天晚上都很期待明天會吃到什麼。」 The second year of working on Your Room, I’d share a meal with my subjects before the shoot. I’ll ask the subject to pick whatever he or she want to eat, or whatever is near their home. Sometime they’d cook for me, ha! I feel like eating together is a quick way to get to know one another. At least I always feel relaxed when I eat. Now the day before the shoot, I really look forward to what I’ll be having the next day.
Ｑ：本身喜歡的藝術家有誰？或文學、或是任何對你有啟發及影響的人？
What are some artists you look up to? Are there any literature or anything that you're inspired and influenced by?
蘇蕊：「第一次有意識在看「攝影家」故事，是國小時看曲家瑞的書《喂，幹嘛不做你自己》看到介紹Nan Goldin那頁，那時還沒有拍照，但一直記得她的作品，還有高一在誠品看到一本很好看的封面，謊報年齡滿18歲買回家，回家後打開嚇死了，是荒木經惟的《荒木經惟的攝影告白》當時就只知道他們兩位，但我都好喜歡，大學後才知道他們原來這麼有名，影響這麼多人。」
The first time I consciously read about a photographer was in grade school. I was reading a book by Kristy Chu titled Hey, why don’t you be yourself? There’s a page that introduced Nan Goldin, and although I haven’t started taking photos, her work imprinted in my mind. First year of high school, at a bookstore I saw a book with a captivating cover, and I lied to the bookstore clerk about being 18 in order to purchase it. I was mortified after looking through the book once at home. The book was The Photography Confessions of Nobuyoshi Araki. I only knew these two photographers back then, but was really inspired by them both. It was not until I was in college that I learned they were both hugely famous and influential.
有天外婆說：「想拍照就去拍吧。」
Ｑ：創作上會遇到哪些問題？
What kind of problems do you face in your line of work?
蘇蕊：「我很沒自信，但想創作的話，應該要更勇敢更無畏吧。」
I lack confidence, but in order to create artwork, I need to be bolder and more daring.
Ｑ：從事創作以來最大的挑戰是？
The biggest challenge you’ve faced in your artistic career.
蘇蕊：「我的心魔跟我的懶散！！！」
My internal struggles and sloth!
Ｑ：最溫馨或難忘的經驗有哪些？
What’s the most heartwarming or memorable experience?
蘇蕊：「除了創作以外，我想成為一位劇照師，因為想做這個職業，大學時期拍攝電影系短片的劇照累積作品，家人一開始會唸我怎麼沒有去打工、不要做白工，有天外婆說：「想拍照就去拍吧。」
Other than creating photographic artwork, I also want to be a still photographer. In order to work in this field, I took short-film stills for the Film Department in college. My family nagged and asked me to get an actual part-time job instead of working for free. But one day, my grandma said, “If you want to take photos, just go ahead and do it.”
藝術跟美麗的應該是很生活的
Ｑ：最喜歡的音樂、電影或是書籍？
Favorite music, movie, or book?
蘇蕊：「Pedro Almodóvar、Tim Burton，我不懂電影，但他們兩位的作品我可以重複看好多遍。」
I’m not a film expert, but I can watch any films by Pedro Almodóvar or Tim Burton over and over again.
Ｑ：會怎麼形容自己的人生態度和生活風格？
How would you describe your attitude to life, or your lifestyle?
蘇蕊：「想成為一輩子能把一件事情做好的人，這是我認為最厲害的事情；生活要過得自在舒服，能站的直挺挺又正氣。」 I want to be someone who dedicate their entire lives to do one thing well; that’s what I think is the most impressive. Life should be calm and pleasant. One should have good morals and always stand tall.
Ｑ：有哪些個人長期和短期的目標？
What are some of your long and short-term goals?
蘇蕊：「短期：畢業一年內入行拍長片劇照。長期：能一直創作就好。」
Short term goal: Become a still photographer within one year of graduation.
Long term goal: Continue to create photographic work.
Ｑ：請問你對於台灣文藝創作現況的看法？
Your opinion on the current cultural and creative scene in Taiwan?
蘇蕊：「藝術跟美麗的應該是很生活的，我想。覺得大家能更友善些，欣賞所有人的不同跟發現每個人的可能。」 I think art and beauty should be a part of our lives. I hope people are more open-minded in order to appreciate the differences between us, and discover everyone’s potential.
「保持妳一開始想拍照的心。」
Ｑ：目前感覺到身為女性藝術家有什麼優勢或劣勢？
What are some advantages/disadvantages of being a female artist?
蘇蕊：「藝術創作方面目前沒有什麼感覺；但從事攝影工作難免會因是女性、身高嬌小，甚至是年紀而讓人有疑慮是真的，我覺得沒關係，看成品就好。」
I don’t feel any difference when it comes to artistic creations. But being a petite, young, female photographer do make some people doubtful. I’m not bothered by it because my work speaks for itself.
Ｑ：你得到過最好的建議是什麼？
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
蘇蕊：「保持妳一開始想拍照的心。」
A: Remember the passion that got you started on this path.
Ｑ：有哪些個人長期和短期的目標？
What are some of your long and short-term goals?
蘇蕊：「短期：畢業一年內入行拍長片劇照。長期：能一直創作就好。」
Short term goal: Become a still photographer within one year of graduation.
Long term goal: Continue to create photographic work.
蘇蕊，今年畢業於臺灣藝術大學圖文傳播藝術學系，專職攝影。 Yuhan (Rae) Sue holds a BFA in Graphic Communication Arts from National Taiwan University of the Arts, 2020.
追蹤更多輕鬆的藝術家資訊，追蹤 IG： ChiaoxArt
看更多精彩藝術家專訪，訂閱Youtube 頻道：瞧瞧藝術 ChiaoxArt
看更多蘇蕊 Rae Su 的精彩創作，追蹤 IG：@yuhansutw