——记钞子艺、伟钞子“东方红”系列雕塑之《老火车》的创作告罄之时
文\薄 清 江
自2002年创作陶艺作品《消逝的家园》全国第七届陶瓷艺术展上获得金奖，钞子艺、钞子伟兄弟俩名字开始在陶艺乃至雕塑界崭露头角受到关注起，他们兄弟俩合作的作品便朝着高难度的领域开崛，挑战着陶艺的极限。一直以来作品越做越大，体量越做越重，由外在酷似逐渐触及人们心灵的真实，由技法而观念，由分体而集中，逐渐逐渐梳理出一根贯穿新近一切作品的红线——《东方红》系列“雕塑行动”。在完成了支前车、坦克、解放汽车、拖拉机之后，历时将近一年的辛勤劳作，向我们今天这个社会奉献出他们最新近的力作----“东方红”系列之《老火车》作品。这件长达六米、体量数吨重的雕塑作品着实给人眼前一亮， 似曾相识，眼见其红锈斑驳、铁制嶙峋，让人息叹，启人幽思。当年我们不就是乘坐这样的火车离开家乡踏上建设者的路途的吗？ 而今天这个“工业恐龙”正被时代无情抛弃，重型器械不再担负创建的使命。钞子艺、钞子伟兄弟俩以这种艺术的方式，使身处电子与信息时代的人们有一个便捷的方式向这个通体瘫痪的“工业恐龙”致以最后的瞩目礼，并寄托半个世纪以来中国人特有经历的纷繁情思。
“东方红号”老火车作为一个时代的标志性形象，它所承载着的是新中国老一辈建设者挥之不去的怀旧情节。承载着同代人人生聚散、世事兴衰的情感 记忆。自从詹天佑在中国建起第一条铁路，中国的地面奔腾起一路轰鸣而迅疾的“工业恐龙”，乃至新中国的建设都不曾离开过火与钢铁合并产生远行的能量及其创造的奇迹。
前几年在创作雕塑“东方红”系列之《拖拉机》时，作者曾这样坦言自己的构思：“东方红”是红色中国的代名词，是时代的产物。而“东方红拖拉机”自它诞生之日起便宣告了中国农业开始走向机械化作业的道路，它寄托着一代中国人的希望、智慧与梦想。作品用一种写实的手法再现历史辉煌，一部分作品采用陶瓷材料，是因为陶本身具有的原始、古朴，加上泥土在熔炉烧炼过程中产生的神秘窑变效果， 则更适于表现这一主题。
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正是有这种先前实践的积累和沉着精进的自信，使他们敢于挑战陶艺雕塑的极限。题材上以计划时代的庞然大物，老火车为对象；材料上有先前的陶瓷到现在的金属材料，如铸铜、铸铁以及各种综合材料等。在观念上以现今人们的眼光回顾沉忆的角度------率性而婉约地表现“逝者如斯”的情怀感伤，也昭示着流连过去的人们，以一种世纪回眸式的怀旧情思来重新审视与筹划现实与明天。
从学术层面上看，雕塑作品“东方红”系列之《老火车》，不仅以历史的工业题材，让创作树立了一个时代的典范，而且也拓宽加深了现实主义作品的表现空间和力度，当它在社会上更大面积地接受人们的观瞻和品评之后，这一点可能更强化留存在观众的印象中，因为我们无论如何都不能回避的一个中国“入世”、“接轨”后的共同现实。在这样一个一切都过分匆忙的时代，我们的确需要抚慰的情怀。那么，就让我们面向“东方红”系列之《老火车》这件沉默不语的雕塑大物吧！目瞩它承载着我们对往事的记忆而闪亮登场吧！
二00六年十二月
薄 清 江, 南阳理工学院教授
Elegy of Chinese Old Train
—The “Dongfanghong” Series, the Sculpture Creation of Old Train
by Chao Ziyi and Chao Ziwei
Bo Qingjiang
Since the creation of the work Disappeared Homeland, which won the gold award in the 7th National Ceramics Art Exhibition, the brothers Chao Ziyi and Chao Ziwei were widely concerned in the fields of ceramics and even sculpture, and their works were strived for the fields with high challenges and high-point. The works became bigger and bigger, heavier and heavier, which touched the soul of human being though the similarity of appearance. Dongfanghong Series “Sculpture Action”, the red line among the works was finally formed, from method to idea and from separation to concentration. After their achievements of front line supporting vehicle, tank, Jiefang truck and tractor, Dongfanghong Series “Old Train” came out, which took almost one year. This sculpture was six meters long and it weighed several tons, which brought us brightness, it looked familiar and made us meditate. It was this train that took us to leave our hometown and became a builder. However, this “industry dinosaur” is being put away pitilessly, and the heavy instrument no longer bears the construction mission. The CHAO BROTHERS make people look up to the “industry dinosaur” in such easy art way, which reposes the Chinese special feeling in the work over the half century.
As a symbol of an era, “Dongfanghong” old train carried the reminiscence of older generation builders who lived in the new China. It carried the memory of meeting and parting, rise and decline. Since the construction of the first railway carried by Zhan Tianyou, it was regarded as the alarming and running “industry dinosaur”, and even the miracle that was combined with fire and steel, which had much energy for a long journey in the new Chinese construction.
We may say that there is no vehicle likes the old train with reminiscence and desolation. As to countrymen, old train is the place for meeting and parting of past events and lives. A scene, experience and story that related to old train can be silently treasured up for a lifetime. But in nowadays, with the development of electron and information, old train is disappearing from people’s sight bit by bit and is being forgot As long as people took or discerned the old train, it was the memory of old train and nothing could substitute it, such as its rapid body and alarming klaxon as well as its silent exit. The brother Chao Ziyi and Chao Ziwei preserved the memory though rusty cast iron sculpture, which is the direct way to sing elegy for them while calling up old times.
When creating the sculpture “Tractor” of “Dongfanghong” series, the writer once described their conception: “Dongfanghong” is another name of red China, and it is the product of the era. However, since the naissance of “Dongfanghong tractor”, it indicated the transformation from agricultural times to mechanization, which also carried Chinese hope, wisdom and dream. The true-life method was used in this work, which reproduced glorious history. One part of the work adopted the ceramic material, because the ceramic itself had original, simple and mysterious effect during the kiln firing process, which was more appropriate for expressing this theme.
It was the confidence that was accumulated from earlier experience made them dare to challenge the utmost of ceramics sculpture. As to the theme, there was old train, which was the dateable monster; as to the material, there were ceramics and metallic material, such as cast copper, cast iron and several synthetic materials, etc. As to the idea, it was viewed from the memory of current standpoints, willfully and gracefully expression of “things flow away”, which also call people to reexamine the reality and plan tomorrow through reminiscence.
On the academic side, the sculpture work “Old Train” of “Dongfanghong” series not only set the example based on historical industry theme, but also broadens and deepens the expressive space and strength. When it is widely viewed and won the approval, this point may be kept in mind by the audience, because we can not avoid the common reality after “joining WTO” and “connection of tracks”. Under such busy times, we certainly need feelings to comfort ourselves. So let’s face the silent “Old Train” of “Dongfanghong” series, and watch its twinkling entrance with our memory for the past.
Dec. 2006
Bo Qingjiang,Nanyang polytechnic college professor