大地上的“异乡者”

      前言： 

     对于中国人而言，基督教是一种异质文化，教堂更是“异乡者”。在不同的历史阶段，作为“异乡客”的教堂在中国大地上以各种风格和形式出现。上个世纪初由西方传教人员建造的西式教堂依然有完整的保存。而今天，这种西方文化中最本土的部分在中国农村地区的建造和呈现，却产生了最为特殊的空间，当地农民没有去过西方，也没有亲眼见过所谓的神圣教堂，仅仅按照他们自己的良好愿望建设自己心中的教堂空间，即所谓的西方主义的心理想象，这正是艺术家曹原铭考察与创作中国乡村礼拜堂系列作品的源点。从他的作品当中，我们可以看到人们对于美好平静的生活的向往，同时在祈祷中找到心灵的慰籍和归属。在这些“教堂”中，中国传统建筑的诸多典型元素有着很多混合式的体现。同样这也是中国传统文化在社会最底层中的一次人文呈现。

    开幕：2008年9月10日下午三时

     展期：2008年9月11日至10月10日

     地点：威海路696号9号楼202　周围艺术空间

     策划：周围艺术空间 明明

     联系：陈沂墨　13795319569

     On view at AroundSpace, 696 Weihai Road, Shanghai

     September 11 – October 10, 2008

     Opening Reception: September 10, 2008   3 P.M.

     Curator: Mingming Chen

      In A Foreign Land

      For most people in China, Christianity is an imported culture, and Christine church is also an alien appeared in native Chinese landscape. Nevertheless, “in a foreign land,” Christine church incarnates in different forms and styles at different times. There are well-preserved Western style churches in China built by Western missionaries at the beginning of last century. However, today, it is more common that many churches were built in countryside in China, where local people have never been to an authentic church in the West. They built churches based on their imagination and wills, and created a very special space for their faith. This is a start point and inspiration of Cao Yuanming's art. In his work, we can find that people are pursuing peace and comforts through their worship and prayer. These churches are mixed with multiple aspects of traditional Chinese architecture styles and it is an alternative incarnation of traditional Chinese culture in the grass roots level.

     Opening: September 10, 2008   3 P.M.

     On View: September 11 - October 10, 2008

     Venue: Aroundspace,  696 Weihai Road, Shanghai

     Curator: Aroundspace  ming ming