"As Vast As Night and Light"- An Interview with Artist Sean Tseng
採訪編輯 Editor｜Joanne Hsieh
翻譯 Translation｜Joanne Hsieh
文＋圖 Image Courtesy｜曾彥翔 Sean Tseng
Ｑ：Hi Sean，請問你來自哪裡或是目前位在哪裡？簡單形容那個城市，或是你會推薦哪些個人最愛的景點/美術館給遊客？
Please tell us where you’re from (or where you’re based), what it’s like and any personal favorite spots you’d recommend for visitors?
Sean：我現居臺灣，常往返台北及桃園。對我來說，台北熱鬧卻不難找到安靜之處棲身；桃園擁擠而充滿活力。和藝術有關的地點我會推薦TKG+、THE HALL、台北市立美術館，而臺灣的話我則是非常喜歡蘭嶼。
I currently live in Taiwan, I go back and forth between Taipei and Taoyuan for work. Taipei is exuberant and busy but you can easily find a quiet and relaxing spot in thr city. Taoyuan is crowded and energetic. For personal favorite art-related spaces, I recommend TKG+, THE HALL, and Taipei Fine Art Museum. For traveling, I love visiting Orchid Island.
Ｑ：你目前的工作室以及藝術家生活情況？
What’s your current studio/work/life situation?
Sean：創作、上課、打工、旅行、閱讀、整理工作室、整理家裡、蒐集藝文資訊、和我的
partner Sara 討論成立藝術實驗空間的可能。
Currently, I spend my time between making art, taking classes, part-time jobs, traveling, reading, organizing my studio and living space, sourcing art news. Me and my partner Sara have been in discussions about opening a artist-run studio space.
Ｑ：你會如何向未接觸過你創作的人形容自己的作品？
How would you describe your work to a stranger who’s never seen your work?
Sean：大多時候我會請觀者分享他們看到了什麼--有些人可能是注意到很具體的外觀、形狀、顏色、材質，有些人也可能是聯想到某些畫面、風景,或是重量、韻律等稍微抽象的感受，接著再請他們感受看看這些所見之物和自己過往的生命經驗能不能產生任何的連結，並從觀者所言中再慢慢分享我對於作品及展出空間的思緒及觀察。如何同時留有想像空間卻又能適時提示真是一門學問啊！
Most of the time I like to ask the viewer what they see-- some are naturally drawn to the objects themselves by their specific shapes, colors or materials; some viewers make immediate associations to an imagery, a scenery or a specific feeling generated by the rhythm or weight created by the installation as an entirety. I would then share my process of creating the work, and my observations of the finished work. Allowing the viewer to have their own interpretations while giving them clues is an art I'm still trying to master.
Ｑ：你希望觀者在不熟悉你創作論述的情況下感受到什麼?
What do you wish the viewer to take away from your work without prior
understanding to your practice?
Sean：對於觀者如何與作品互動我好像一直抱持蠻開放的態度，對我而言，或許一開始可以從形狀、顏色、聲音等進入作品，而後漸漸地感受到物件與物件、空間與物件、觀者自己與空間的關係。簡言之，這或許便是希望觀者能感受到「觀者置身於空間之中的氛圍」吧。
I've always been open-minded to how the viewer interpret and interact with my work. Personally, I would approach my work first through the shape, color or medium of each object, and through the sounds as well. Then gradually taking in how each object interacts within the space, the relationship between each object and the viewer themselves. Simply put, I wish the viewer can completely immerse themselves in the space that I create.
Ｑ：請問你的學經歷以及開始創作藝術的轉機是?
Could you tell us about your educational background and why you decided to make art?
Sean：先後畢業於政治大學廣告學系及皇家藝術學院雕塑學系。多年前，因為個人興趣而去畫室畫畫，並開始帶著相機到處拍照。隨後受畫室及大學老師啟發，逐漸接觸了哲學與社會學的文本，進而反思「我所拍攝的照片是什麼？我所畫下的事物又是什麼？我是如何觀看的呢？」等問題。後來，好奇心使然，逐步將創作推向立體及空間，一路上便帶著諸多的疑惑與好奇走到了今日。
I obtained a B.A. in advertising from the college of communication at National Chengchi University (Taiwan), followed by an MFA from the Royal College of Art in 2022. Many years ago, I took interest in painting and took classes at an art studio, also started taking photographs wherever I go. My painting instructor at the time and professors at college inspired me to dive into philosophy and sociology literature, I started asking myself, "What are the pictures I'm taking? What am I painting? How do I perceive/observe?" Eventually I started making 3-dimensional works and creating "spaces". With many questions still, my curiosity carried me to where I'm at today.
Ｑ：你的美感來源是什麼?
What inspires your aesthetic choices?
Sean：我喜歡一個人靜靜看海、靜靜地躺在沙灘上感受陽光的灼熱與微風拂過皮膚的觸感。喜歡看著光線與灑落下的影子、喜歡閱讀哲學與美學相關的文本、喜歡旅行。這些大概是日常生活中培養美感與觀察力的來源。
I enjoy laying on the beach, soaking up the warmth of sun and feeling the gentle breeze on my skin. I like observing light and the shadow that it casts, I enjoy literature on philosophy and aesthetics. I love traveling. These are what inspire my aesthetic choices.
Q：你最喜歡使用的媒材是？為什麼？
What is your favorite medium to work with?
Sean：好像有點難選出一個最喜歡的媒材，不過我覺得應該是「影像」。除了它是我非常熟悉的媒材之外，我對於影像取自於真實、卻又並非再現或重製真實的特性非常著迷。
It's difficult for me to pick just one medium, but I would say photography. I'm familiar with it and I'm fascinated by the process of translating an image from real life to a different form.
Ｑ：你最欣賞的其他藝術家作品是?
What’s your favorite body of work created by another artist?
Sean：李禹煥，凱西．威爾克斯（b. 1966, 北愛爾蘭藝術家）以及奧拉維爾．埃利亞松（b. 1967, 丹麥裔冰島籍藝術家）。
Lee Ufan, Cathy Wilkes, Olafur Eliasson.
Ｑ：你受到誰的啟發？你最喜歡的藝術家、文學家或是音樂家？
Who inspire you? Who are some of your favorite writers, artists or musicians?
Sean：李禹煥，克勞德．德布西，約翰．凱吉，莫里斯．梅洛-龐蒂（b. 1908, 法國哲學家），以及我以前畫室的廖進祥老師。
Lee Ufan, Claude Debussy, John Cage, Merleau Ponty and my painting instructor Mr. Liao Jing-hsiang.
Ｑ：你收集什麼物品嗎?
Do you collect anything?
Sean：在創作中，我習慣邊散步邊拍照，以收集影像的方式當作觀看的練習。在生活中，每到一地結束旅行之前，我會買一個磁鐵並以此作為紀念。
I like taking pictures while wandering around, collecting imageries as a way to cultivate how I "see" things. During travels, I would buy a magnet from each place before the journey ends.
Ｑ：你孩提時代最喜歡的活動，以及其和你現在的創作有無關連?
What was your favorite activity as a child and is it relevant to your work as an
artist today?
Sean：小時候時我很喜歡出門玩，總是非常期待每一次的旅行，因而也非常喜歡看旅行相關的書籍。我記得我常常在心中跟自己說：「以後長大時一定要自己出去旅行。」或許正是那時種下了這顆冒險的種子，以至於從大學開始一有機會便努力打工及出國旅行。一路上更是藉著不同的風景、遇到的人、事、物蒐集到許多靈感，並化為創作的養分之一。以現在的創作狀態來說，我很享受在移動中帶來的緊張與興奮感，它會使我的知覺變為敏銳，因而能看到或是注意到許多不曾留意過的事物。
As a kid I was always very excited about traveling, which also made me become very interested in reading books about traveling. I told myself that I must travel solo when I grow up. With that mindset, during college, I started working part-time jobs just to save money for travels. The things I saw and people I met during my travels provided me tons of inspirations for my art. I enjoy the kind of excitement and the slight nervousness you get while traveling, it stimulates my senses and makes me pay more attention to details.
Ｑ：請推薦一個紀錄片、電影、或是一本書？
Can you recommend us a documentary or a book (s)?
Sean：電影碧海藍天（1988）＆你，就是冒險王-克里斯的夢想天空（2009）。
The Big Blue (1988) & The King of Adventure (2009).
Ｑ：未來5-10年有哪些規劃?
What are your goals for the next 5-10 years?
Sean：仔細想了想對自己的期許，好像最重要的並非實際上做了或是完成了什麼事，而是希望自己能隨著時間的磨練，越來越接近某種生活方式——浪漫一點的來說，無論當時將會在世界的何處，我都希望能好好享受當下並帶著過去的點點滴滴，以舒服而雀躍的方式走向未來。同時，我也希望日後的我能時時保持學習的熱忱，持續探索世界。我想這個過程最重要的是能誠實地面對自己，並珍惜每一次的相遇。在創作上持續耕耘、在思想上保有自省與批判的勇氣、在生活上能安穩而開心。至於實際該如何達成，我自己也不確定，僅能在心中提醒自己認真對待手邊的事情，其他的便抱持著隨遇而安心，偶爾享受一點規劃之外的驚喜也是不賴。
I thought long and hard about what I expect of myself and came to the conclusion that, instead of focusing on meeting deadlines and completing projects, I want to focus more on honing and establishing an ideal lifestyle -- maybe I'm a romantic, I just want to enjoy the moment and be present. With all the experiences and memories that I have, I will carry them and move forward with an open mind. I wish myself to stay hungry and curious and continue exploring the world, to always be true to myself and cherish every encounter. Keep working and creating, keep an open mind and the ability to critical thinking, and be self aware. I'm not so sure how to actually achieve all this, but as long as I give 100 percent to whatever I'm working on, and be spontaneous, I'm sure life will bring pleasant surprises.
特別感謝曾彥翔。
Special thanks to Sean Tseng.
曾彥翔（b. 1995, 台北）畢業於英國皇家藝術學院雕塑學系碩士、國立政治大學廣告學系學士，現居台北。創作媒材常交錯使用工業材料如水泥、金屬和自然中採集的石頭、樹枝、水等，探尋材料之間的互動，並在空間意象中層層疊出韻律,探索感知的深度。作品結合裝置、影像與物件，注重物質相遇時的可能、狀態與韻律，並以身體及感知為藝術實踐之核心。作品曾多次展出於臺灣、⻄班牙、英國、中國。近年與臺灣藝術家吳依宣籌辦以「空間」為研究核心的藝術家線上交流平台 ss space space。
Sean Tseng (b. 1995, Taipei) holds an MFA from Royal College of Arts and currently lives and works in Taipei, Taiwan. Tseng primarily works in installation and photography. Through the use of a mix of natural and man-made materials, his site-specific installations explore the rhythm and subtleties in landscape, while investigating the relationship between urban and natural landscapes, allowing the viewer to immerse in these spaces that he creates. Tseng has shown in Taiwan, Spain, Great Britain and China. He is the co-founder of a research-based and artist-centered platform "ss space space" with artist Sara Wu.
看更多精彩藝術家專訪，訂閱Youtube 頻道：瞧瞧藝術 ChiaoxArt
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看更多曾彥翔 Sean Tseng 精彩創作，追蹤 IG：@seantzg