評論
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As a conceptual artist,
作為一位概念派藝術家，
I'm constantly looking for creative ways to spark challenging conversations.
我經常尋求創新的方式，通過繪畫、雕塑、視頻和表演
I do this through painting, sculpture, video and performance.
去啟發大家思考，一些有挑戰性的話題。
But regardless of the format, two of my favorite materials are history and dialogue.
但是拋開形式不談，我最喜歡的材料是歷史和對話。
In 2007, I created "Lotus," a seven-and-a-half-foot diameter,
在2007年，我創造了“蓮花”，一個直徑約2.3米
600-pound glass depiction of a lotus blossom.
重達600磅的蓮花花瓣玻璃刻繪作品。
In Buddhism, the lotus is a symbol for transcendence and for purity of mind and spirit.
在佛教中，蓮花是超然的象征，是純凈的意念和精神的象征。
But a closer look at this lotus reveals each petal to be the cross-section of a slave ship.
但是仔細看這個蓮花，每一個花瓣都是販賣奴隸的船只的橫截面。
This iconic diagram was taken from a British slaving manual
我所臨摹的圖像來自于英國的奴役手冊，
and later used by abolitionists to show the atrocities of slavery.
它后來被廢奴主義者用來展示奴隸制的殘忍。
In America, we don't like to talk about slavery, nor do we look at it as a global industry.
在美國我們不愿意討論奴隸制，我們也不把奴隸制當成全球的產業。
But by using this Buddhist symbol,
用這個佛學象征
I hope to universalize and transcend the history and trauma of black America
我希望可以讓大家意識到非裔美國人的歷史，治愈他們的的創傷，
and encourage discussions about our shared past.
并且鼓勵有關我們共同的過去的討論。
To create "Lotus," we carved over 6,000 figures.
為了創作“蓮花”，我們雕刻了6000多個人物。
And this later led to a commission by the City of New York
之后美國紐約議會
to create a 28-foot version in steel as a permanent installation at the Eagle Academy for Young Men,
在青年鷹學院制造了一個直徑8.5米的鋼鐵版本。
a school for black and latino students, the two groups most affected by this history.
青年鷹學院是一所為非裔和拉丁裔學生服務的學校。這兩類人是受歷史影響最大的，
The same two groups are very affected by a more recent phenomenon, but let me digress.
同樣是他們，近來又到了巨大的影響。我后面會繼續講這個話題。
I've been collecting wooden African figures from tourist shops and flea markets around the world.
我一直在全球的紀念品商店和跳蚤市場收集木質非洲人物雕塑。
The authenticity and origin of them is completely debatable,
他們的來源和真實性是很值得懷疑的，
but people believe these to be imbued with power, or even magic.
但是人們相信雕塑里蘊含能量，甚至魔法。
Only recently have I figured out how to use this in my own work.
直到最近我才找到它們用在我的作品中的辦法。
