Friday 5 September 2014

看見攝影裡的聲音 See Sound in Photography



--在藝術史中,視覺與聽覺間的關係一直是許多藝術家創作的命題。
當兩種不同感官經驗相互影響時,會迸發出什麼靈感呢?

--The relationship between visual art and music has always been a great motive for artists throughout art history. Let's find out the inspirational conflux when the two senses meet.


Listening to the Dark” photography by Yehlin Lee





李岳凌(Yehlin Lee),是位優秀的台灣攝影家,日前他與Rinse分享了他的創作「黑暗聆聽(Listening to the Dark)。在他眼中,攝影是一種認識自我以及與外在世界關係的方式。他同時相信,「品味」與「內在力量」是攝影及藝術創作之必要。即是,打破藝術分類、時間、空間與文化的界線,並透過觀察感官經驗來了解自我,才能得到個人性的原創能力。

Yehlin Lee (李岳凌), a talented Taiwanese photographer, shared his photo essay “Listening to the Dark” with Rinse. To him, photography is a way to know oneself better, and to know one’s relationship with outer world. He also believes that “taste” and “inner strength” are essential to photography or other forms of art. That is, one has to cross the boundary of art genre, time, space and even culture; to know oneself through observing his/her own sensational experience, and to distill one's personal originality.



不禁令我這麼想:如果台灣形塑了今天的我,那麼這島嶼的黑暗角落是否也反映了自己從未察覺的那一面?
總在天色方暗時,我帶著相機走在城市的邊緣,將注意力一向耳朵,遠離城市的喧囂……


Listening to the Dark” photography by Yehlin Lee



Listening to the Dark
… I can’t help but wonder: If Taiwan shapes who I am, does the dark side of the island reflects part of me that I was never aware of?
I walk on the fringe of the city with a camera, mostly when daylight falls. I turn my attention to my ears, away from city noises…….


其實他從2001年起就開始創作,不過是在聲音藝術領域,而非攝影。當時他受了知名聲音藝術家姚大鈞的影響,開始創作電子原音音樂,具象音樂,以及人文音景錄音。
據他說,姚大鈞當時所製作的網路廣播節目「前衛音樂網」是至今最廣泛且深入的聽音經驗,可以說這些節目,奠定了他藝術追求之路的基礎。所有節目依舊能在此下載
 
In fact, rather than photography, Lee started his career in sound art since 2001. He was influenced by the renowned sound artist Dajuin Yao, and worked mainly in electroacoustic music composition, “musique concréte”, and humanistic soundscape recording.
According to Lee, Dajuin’s internet broadcast “Foretaste Radio” was and still is the widest and deepest listening experience. It laid the foundation of his pursuit of art. All the programs could still be found here.

*

您過去以音樂與聲音領域為專業,是怎樣的契機讓您接觸攝影呢? 

早年從事聲音藝術,也與互動媒體藝術沾上邊。但過了一段時間後,對外在藝術環境的浮躁感到失望,內在也覺得自己的作品程度無法超越過往大師,陷入嚴重低潮,只能全部放掉,什麼都不做,轉向瑜伽練習,調養身心。
過了兩三年,直到2011年末因緣際會參加一個攝影課程ExLab才開始攝影。2012年中,又幸運地吊車尾進入張乾琦攝影工作坊,就這麼拍到現在。 

You were specialized in Music and Sound Art. What made you start to photograph? 

Few years ago, I start to make sound art, and also take parts in interactive art. Several years past by, I became so frustrated about the bluffing in the art scene. On the other hand, I knew my works were yet on par with those made by the masters. I can’t help but fell into a deep depression. The only thing I could do was to let go everything and turn to yoga practice, which nourishes me both physically and mentally.
In 2011, out of curiosity, I joined a photography course “ExLab” by chance and started to photograph. In mid-2012, luckily enough, I was accepted to join the photography workshop, held by Magnum photographer Chien-Chi Chang.That’s how I start to photograph until now.


Listening to the Dark” photography by Yehlin Lee




您提到,「在視覺領域內追求聲音美學」,在攝影與聲音創作的過程有何異同?又是如何互相激盪呢? 

Visual/Musical間的關係一直是歷史上藝術創作的一大命題,其中之一是「共感」,有人天生能夠聽見顏色,或是看見聲音,我沒有這種特殊能力,但是隱約中能感受到顏色/音色之間的關係,時間的留白/畫面中的空間感,旋律/線條間的關係等等。除此之外,作品於我更重要的,是要禁得起反覆品味的後勁。做聲音時,是要一個人在工作室內,為純粹的內心工作,而攝影則是得要往外走,與世界和人群連結,這是最大的差異。

As you mentioned “looking for aural aesthetics with vision”, what is the similarity and difference between photography and sound works? How do they inspire each other?

The relationship between visual art and music has been a great motive for artists throughout art history. One topic is called "Synesthesia" . Some people were born with a capability of “hearing” the color, or “seeing” the sound. Although I am not one of them, I can somehow feel the relation between colors and musical timbre; the connection between white space in an image and a rest in music; or the parallels between lines and melodies.

When I make sound works, I am alone in the studio. Composing is totally inner work; but for photography, I have to walk into the world and get connected with people. That’s the major difference between working in sound and photography.

Listening to the Dark” photography by Yehlin Lee

 對您來說,攝影是怎麼樣的存在與意義呢?

如同所有好藝術一樣,是種持恆的,
接近自我的練習。

What is photography to you?
 
Just like any good art, 
it is a persistent practice to approach the inner self.





請問您是受到如何的啟發而拍攝了黑暗聆聽系列作品呢?其主旨為何? 

我的攝影方式不是從一個先入為主的觀念出發,再去找有何可拍,或去設計要拍什麼。反而我拍的是任何吸引我的事物,持續累積了一些東西之後,看這些照片為何吸 引我,自己的觀察方式有了什麼變化,不斷磨練眼力。這些變化也許都不是自己的意識層面上的,而是更底層、更具身體性,也更靠近直覺的。
2013年末,參加 Alex Webb & Rebecca Norris Webb Project Workshop。不得不佩服前輩們的功力,他們所青睞的照片,和我自己所挑的大異其趣,可以說他們把我照片中,沒有意識到的自我給挖了出來。

What is the motive of “Listening to the Dark” series? What is the theme of it?

My way of photography does not come from a concept beforehand. I did not come up with an idea first then go take the photos; nor do I design things to shoot. I shoot whatever interests me, accumulate a lot of photos, and then see which photos attract me and why. I try to trace how my way of seeing changes, and hone this visual sensibility repetitively. These changes may not come from my consciousness. They are deeper, more physical and more instinctive.
In the end of 2013, I attended Alex Webb & Rebecca Norris Webb's project workshop. I can’t  pay more respect to their excellence and experience. Those photos they favored are totally different from the ones I picked. They dug out the other side of me that I was never aware of.
 
Listening to the Dark” photography by Yehlin Lee







後來才發覺這些夜間景象,的確跟我以往的聲音藝術創作有所關連。以前的聆聽經驗與演出情況,是在全無燈光一片漆黑中,有些演出甚至是要用布條遮眼的。人腦在一般情況 下,注意力七成以上是用來處理視覺情報,當你身處黑暗時,才能完全進入聲音世界之中,真正專心聽,那樣的感官經驗是完全不同的。
於是,才將此系列定名為「Listening to the Dark 黑暗聆聽」,也可說是由感官體驗與身體實踐後所得出的概念。

Afterward, I realized that these night time images were indeed related to my experience in sound art in the past. Back then, we often listened to music or performed on stage in dim light or  complete darkness. Some performances even required the audience to cover their eyes with a piece of cloth. Generally, human brain put more than 70% of its attention on visual information. Thus, only when you are in sheer darkness, you immerse yourself in the world of sound — that is when you are listening for real. It is a complete different sensational experience.
Therefore this series is named “Listening to the Dark”. This concept is derived from sensational experience and bodily practice.


拍攝過程中有什麼有趣的事情或者挫折發生嗎?您的反應為何?  

如此的拍攝方式 99.9% 都是失敗與挫折,但 0.1% 的甘甜就足以彌補。比方那張牆頭上的公雞,是在鹿港拍的,回去才發現肚皮上被小黑蚊叮了一整圈,苦不堪言。

During the process of shooting, was there anything interesting or frustrating happened? What was your response?

Taking photo in this way, you get more than a 99.9% chance of frustration and failures. Nevertheless, when the 0.1% happened, all the hard work is worthwhile. For instance, the shot of a rooster standing on the wall was taken at Lugang Township. Only did I get home that I found my belly get bitten brutally by mosquitoes. The suffering was beyond any word.


Listening to the Dark
photography by Yehlin Lee



在本系列中,您最喜歡或者最印象深刻的是哪一幅呢?

最末張。


In this series, which one is your favorite or impresses you the most? 

The last one.









請對正在觀賞”Listening to the Dark”的觀眾說幾句話。

別想太多,別急著想解讀出些什麼,
給自己多點時間,慢慢地感覺。

Please say something to audiences viewing this work.

Do not think too much.
There is no rush to interpret the frame.
Give yourself more time to feel,
slowly. 


#欲觀賞完整的作品與故事,請至黑暗聆聽(“Listening to the Dark” )
#欲瞭解更多,可至李岳凌的官方網站
----------------

Do you have a photographic story to share? Are you fascinated with photos and words? 
Come join Rinse to find more great works and meet others like you. 
Rinse will be better and more with your participation.
----------------
Contact