对话哥斯达黎加艺术家

This year, Man Yu, as the representative of Costa Rica in the 7th Beijing International Art Biennale at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing from September 24th to October 15th, is presenting her most recent art piece "Angelique". This artwork is a portrait of 150x150cm intervened with a veil of silk metaphor that refers to commitments of different nature acquired with marriage such as respect, caring, generosity, etc, reflecting the concept of the Silk Road and the union between Asia and Europe that involved multiple exchanges of other nature. The painting invites spectators to interact with it, since it only can be admired completely if the veil is lifted.

今年9月24日至10月15日，Man Yu作为哥斯达黎加艺术代表参加在北京国家美术馆举办的第七届北京国际艺术双年展，她带来了她近期的艺术作品“Angelique”。 这幅作品是150x150厘米的画像，用丝绸面纱暗喻婚姻需要具备的品质，如尊重、关爱、宽容等等，也反映了丝绸之路的概念和亚欧之间联盟需要的品质。这幅画邀请观众与之进行互动，因为只有当面纱被解除，才能领悟到“Angelique”的深层含义。

Below is the interview with Man Yu:

下面是LOOKWE对Man Yu的采访：

LOOKWE: Welcome to attend the 7th Beijing International Art Biennale, how do you feel about joining Beijing International Art Biennale?

Actually, it is really an honor. It is my first time in Beijing. I think maybe because I was here when I was younger, probably when I was a baby. It is also my first time participating in Biennale of Beijing, it is a really beautiful experience. There is no words I can express to thanks for all the organizations that make this happen.

LOOKWE：欢迎参加第七届北京国际艺术双年展，你对此次加入北京国际艺术双年展有什么看法？

Man Yu：首先，我很荣幸有这样的机会。这是我第一次来北京，可能我更小的时候，当我还是个孩子的时候，我来过，不过我不太记得。这也是我第一次参加北京国际艺术双年展，所以这是一个美丽的经历，我要感谢所有让我来到北京参加这样的一个活动的组织。

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Man Yu's work

LOOKWE: Why do you choose "Angelique", you most recent art piece, to present at the 7th Beijing International Art Biennale? what do you want to express through this work?

Man Yu: Actually, this collection of the silk road has two works. One is a Chinese girl with a red silk of traditional wedding in Costa Rica. And “Angelique”, which is in Beijing, is a modern white girl in China. That’s the strategic that the Chinese is in the other side of the world, and occidental is in China. That’s the little game I play. So, actually, the veil is a metaphor about wedding. And why is wedding? Because when you get married with someone, you should respect each other, you have to look in the same direction, the same dreams, you have to progress together, develop together. So the silk road is about commercial, interchange relationship, and because of that, both country has to be friends, has to engaged in many stuff, like respect, acceptance, etc. And that’s was what I thought, I don’t just want to think about economical, commercial. I also want to make it more romantic. And that’s the concept of the veil of “Angelique”

LOOKWE：你为什么选择你的最新作品“Angelique”参展第七届北京国际艺术双年展？你想通过这部作品表达什么？

Man Yu：实际上，丝绸之路系列有两幅作品。一幅放在哥斯达黎加，是一个穿着传统红丝绸婚礼服饰的中国女孩。而在北京的“Angelique”是现代白种女人。这是我做的小游戏：中国人在世界的另一边，而西方人在中国。实际上，面纱是关于婚姻的一个隐喻。为什么是婚姻？因为当你和某人结婚的时候你们应该相互尊重，朝同一个方向前进，拥有同样的梦想，你们一起进步，共同发展。所以当丝绸之路大多谈论关于商业，互动交流的关系（但是正是因为这样，两国必须是朋友，必须必须相互尊重、包容，这是好事）我不想只考虑经济，商业。我想让它更具浪漫性。这就是“Angelique”的神秘面纱。

LOOKWE: We have learnt that your father is former Chinese military who has fought in the World War Ⅱ and migrate to Costa Rica afterward, you were born in HongKong. It seems that China and you are inextricably linked, how do you see the influence of the Chinese traditional culture on your art work?

Man Yu: Actually, I have Chinese blood, I was born in HongKong, and very happy that I am part of China, we are Chinese. It is very convenient that I have two points of view: the occidental part and oriental part. And when people look at my work, they can perceive the traces and color, which is more occidental. Because I have more occidental art in Costa Rica, so people can feel the freeness, happiness, and colorful side of Costa Rica. And at the same time, people will notice that the rest impression is Chinese. It is serious, I don’t use it for random. Besides, most of my works have some Chinese philosophy, like the dao, for example, I talk a lot about buddhist philosophy, Chinese philosophy about life, way of living. In fact, even it is more contemporary modern art, there is always a Chinese philosophy concept.

LOOKWE：我们了解到，您的父亲是二战期间的中国军人，后来移民哥斯达黎加，而你是在香港出生。您与中国似乎有着千丝万缕的联系，你是如何看待中国传统文化对您的艺术作品的影响？

Man Yu：实际上，我流淌着的是中国血液，我出生于香港，很高兴我是中国的一部分。我拥有两种观点对我来说很便捷：西方观点和东方观点。当人们看着我的作品时，他们可以感觉西方价值观的痕迹和颜色。我在哥斯达黎加长大，更倾向于西方艺术。人们可以感受到哥斯达黎加自由，幸福和丰富多彩的一面。同时，人们会观察到，剩余印象是中国观点。这是个严肃的说法，我没有随便开玩笑。此外，我的大部分作品都含有中国哲学，例如，道家哲学。我谈论了很多佛教哲学，中国关于生活，生活方式的哲学。事实上，即使我的作品更偏向于现代艺术，但是请相信我，里面都融合了中国哲学的概念。

It's Man Yu's work

LOOKWE: We have learnt that besides being an artist, you are also activist against global warming, and animal abuse. How do you use your own strength to make more and more people realize the necessary of changing global warming, and animal abuse situation?

Man Yu: First, because I don’t think I’m only an artist, I am also a human. And to be a human, we are not only do what we work on, or for our hobbies or passion. So since I was a child, I want to help people. When I was a kid, I want to be super hero. That was really a job I want to do. But then I realize I don’t have super power, that’s why I use art, this can change the world, or purify the world. But then I realize it is not enough, I have to do something else. So ever since I was 12 years old. I become a vegetarian, for example. I love animals, I don’t want to hurt them and I don’t want to see them die in the street, so I decide not to eat them. Like 12 or 13 years ago, I became vegan. A completely vegan, no egg, no milk, no honey that involving violent or sacrificing of animals. And I still think it’s not enough. So I became a volunteer in different organizations, rescue teams, disaster teams. I have been working in central and south America, because I know Asia have a lot of help, but some of the country are not so rich, they need more volunteers. Sometimes government arranges things are not so well, you have to go and translate, for example, you have to learn about first aid, and see how we can help. So I have become friends with different organization. Besides that, when I see animals: dogs and cats are homeless on the street, I take them home. I don’t just keep them, I am trying not to fall in love with them, but still I cannot help falling in love with them. I take them to the doctors, they do some sort of surgery, so they don’t have more babies. And then I found a family for them. If everyone acting like that, the world would be better. I have seen many people do that, and I copy their method, so hopefully, someone will copy me, too. In relation of the global warming, sometimes I do conferences in different part of central America. In Guatemala, at the university, I talk about the damage of the global warming for 250 students. And I also participate in different activities of Copenhagen. As a citizen, I encourage people to recycle, which also makes me happy. I see there are garbage cans in China, it is an option of recycle.

LOOKWE：除了作为一名艺术家，您也是反对全球变暖和滥杀动物的提倡者。您是如何用自己的影响力，让越来越多的人意识到改变全球变暖和滥杀动物这种现状的必要性？

Man Yi：首先，我不认为我只是一个艺术家，我也是一个人，作为一个人，我们不仅仅只做我们的工作，我们喜欢的事。所以我自小就想帮助别人。小时候，我的梦想是成为一名超级英雄。后来，我意识到我没有那种神奇能力，所以我决定用艺术来改变世界。但是我又意识到这还不够，我还要做别的事情。所以在我12岁的时候。我成为一个素食主义者，我喜欢动物，不想伤害他们，不想看到他们在街上死亡，我决定不去吃它们。大概12或13年前，我变成了全素食主义者。不吃会让动物受伤的食品：如鸡蛋，牛奶，蜂蜜。后来，我加入不同组织，救援队，救灾队的志愿者行列。我一直在中美洲和南美洲工作，因为我知道亚洲有很多的帮助，但是一些国家不是很富有，他们需要更多的志愿者。有时政府安排的事情不是那么完善，所以你需要协助，例如你必须学习急救知识，看看我们如何能帮上忙。我和很多不同组织成为朋友。此外，当我看到一些动物：狗和猫在街上无家可归，我会带他们回家。我不会留住他们，我尽量让自己不要喜欢上它们，但最后仍然会爱上它们。我会带它们去看医生，给它们做一些手术，所以它们不会再生宝宝。然后我为它们找到一个家。如果每个人都这样做，世界会变得更加美好。很多人这样做过，我仿效他们的做法，所以希望别人也会向我学习。关于全球变暖，我会在中美洲的不同地区协助。在危地马拉的一个大学，我向250名学生演讲全球变暖。我也参加了关于哥本哈根世界气候会议的活动。作为一个公民，我很开心能鼓励人们将废物重新利用。我看到中国有垃圾桶，这是循环再造的一种选择。

LOOKWE: 2017 is the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Costa Rica. As an artist who was born in China, and raised in Costa Rica, do you have anything to share with our readers during this special year?

Man Yu: I am happy, because I have Latin influence. So for me, it is like a birthday party. We have been friends for ten years, and now we are all celebrating, I am really happy and honor to be a part of this huge and majestic Anniversary of China, so now I have two homes: Costa Rica is my small, humble, colorful, beautiful home and China, big home, I found it very beautiful, so I am very honor.

LOOKWE：2017年是中国与哥斯达黎加建交十周年。 作为在中国出生,在哥斯达黎加长大的艺术家，在这个特别的年份您有什么要和读者分享吗？

Man Yu：我很高兴，我有拉美的影响力。对我来说，10周年就像一个生日聚会。 我们已经是十年的朋友了，现在我们在庆祝这个节日。我真的很高兴、很荣幸成为这个宏伟纪念日中的一员。现在我有两个家：哥斯达黎加是我的小家，多彩 ，丰富，美丽，中国是我的大家，我觉得很漂亮。我觉得非常荣幸。

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