陈雷 Chen LEi
艺术为谁而存在？艺术里有没有平等主义？如果有，它是什么？
事实上，可能并不是所有人都需要艺术，很多人的生活离艺术很远似乎也活得挺好，还有部分人因为认知的隔阂对不理解的艺术要么敬而远之，要么不屑一顾……当然，艺术自己看上去也常常一副高高在上的样子，居庙堂之间，俯瞰普罗大众……如果就此得出结论，艺术只是为少数受过人文教育的精神贵族和有钱有闲的特别阶层存在，那艺术的意义可能就太不完整甚至是值得怀疑了。
一方面，当代艺术认为社会和大众并不关心自己；另一方面大众也觉得当代艺术越来越傲慢、晦暗难懂、孤芳自赏。在这种矛盾面前，艺术和大众之间能够实现平等主义对话吗？
平等主义是一个美好的词，可惜这个词也代表着这个世界最匮乏的东西，有人生在罗马，有人生出来就成了骡马，没有什么绝对的平等主义，但平等主义又绝对是人类社会必要的一种价值观。
平等主义意味着大众与艺术之间不应该存在隔阂和鸿沟，每个人都有能力从个人的角度去理解和参与艺术活动。以刻板印象看来，艺术常被视为高雅、精英化的文化消费方式，而大众则更接受流行、通俗的文化产品，但时代毕竟在进步，越来越多的大众开始积极参与各种形式的艺术活动，艺术不再是让大众陌生的概念。
平等主义意味着大众以更开放、包容的态度看待不同艺术的种类、风格和题材，不论传统还是前卫，不论国画、油画，也不论国别和地域，没有高低贵贱，避免过分的主观偏见，每种艺术类型其实都可以生发出有趣和有创意的作品。
艺术不是孤立的存在，艺术作品需要有观看者才完整，要通过观看者的理解和感受才能散发意义和价值。而大众也需要艺术作品来激发自己的感知力和想象力、满足意识上的需求。平等主义意味着艺术家要尊重观众，尊重观众的多样性，尊重观众的批评，让更多人的生活与艺术发生关系。
所以德国著名概念艺术家约瑟夫·博伊斯提出：「人人都是艺术家」！创造力并不是所谓艺术家的特权，艺术也并不只是艺术家的作品，而是一切人的生命力、创造力和想象力的产物，每个人作为社会的一份子，都有改变自己和世界的创造能力。艺术是人类最本真的方式，艺术的价值是帮助人类进化，每个人都有自己的主体性，不是权力、机器或科技的附庸。所以只要人人都发挥其本性，用本真参与社会，社会就会朝着更美好的方向发展。
平等主义还意味着艺术市场的公平和包容，艺术市场不应被垄断和过度商业化，应该有更多社会力量参与进来为艺术家提供展示和发展的机会，这样才可能建立起一个更加开放、多元、健康的艺术生态，这也是为什么我要在艾利艾这样的空间展示作品的原因。
这个展览是一场作品与公众对话的实验，让那些没有进画廊、美术馆习惯和机会的人能近距离与自己经验之外的一些东西不期而遇，不论他是学者、官员、快递员、清洁工还是企业家、金融家，也许这是一个契机，让他们从日常工作和生活中短暂地抽离出来，从功利的积极意义中脱身出来，看到世界和生命的另一种姿态和面貌，唤起内心的某种东西。
在艺术面前，我一直认为每个人都是平等的，每个人心里其实都有对艺术的见解和感悟，没有什么对错，只有喜欢或不喜欢，即使不喜欢，我们也要以宽容的态度去看待，这样我们才能学会宽容地对待社会生活中各种不同的观点和事物。
艺术的平等主义既是一种积极向上的理念，也是一种多元化的实践，它鼓励我们打破思维定势和文化隔阂，让更多的人受益于艺术的力量，激发出生命的活力与创造力。
艺术并非无处不在，但此刻就在身边……
For whom does art exist?
Is there egalitarianism in art? If so, what is it? In fact, not everyone needs art, and many people seem to live well even if they are far away from it. Some people, due to cognitive barriers, either respect or disdain art that they do not understand... Of course, art itself often appears to stand high, and overlooking the general public... If it can be concluded that art only exists for a few spiritual aristocrats who have received humanistic education, and rich or leisure classes, then the meaning of art may be too incomplete or even questionable.
On the one hand, contemporary art believes that society and the public do not care about art; On the other hand, the public also feels that contemporary art is becoming more and more arrogant, obscure and difficult to understand, and self indulgent. Can an egalitarian dialogue be achieved between art and the masses in the face of such contradictions?
Egalitarianism is a beautiful word, but unfortunately it also represents the most scarce thing in this world. Some people were born in Rome, some people were born to mules and horses. There is no absolute egalitarianism, but egalitarianism is definitely a necessary value in human society.
Egalitarianism means that there should be no barriers or gaps between the public and art, and everyone has the ability to understand and participate in artistic activities from a personal perspective. From a stereotypical perspective, art is often seen as an elegant and elite way of cultural consumption, while the public is more accepting of popular cultural products. However, the times are advancing, and more and more people are actively participating in various forms of artistic activities. Art is no longer an unfamiliar concept to the general public.
Egalitarianism means that the public views different types, styles, and themes of art with a more open and inclusive attitude, whether traditional or avant-garde, whether traditional Chinese painting or oil painting, or regardless of country and region, without any high or low status, avoiding excessive subjective bias, and each type of art can actually produce interesting and creative works.
Art is not an isolated existence. Artistic works need viewers to be complete, and meaning and value can only be conveyed through their understanding and feelings. And the public also needs artistic works to stimulate their perception and imagination, and meet their conscious needs. Egalitarianism means that artists should respect the audience, respect their diversity, respect their criticism, and make more people's lives relate to art.
So the famous German concept artist Joseph Beuys proposed, "Everyone is an artist!"Creativity is not the privilege of artists, and art is not just the work of artists, but the product of everyone's vitality, creativity, and imagination. Everyone, as a member of society, has the creative ability to change themselves and the world. Art is the most fundamental way for humanity, and its value is to help humanity evolve. Everyone has their own subjectivity, not an appendage of power, machines, or technology. So as long as everyone unleashes their true nature and participates in society with their true selves, society will develop towards a better direction.
Egalitarianism also means fairness and inclusiveness in the art market. The art market should not be monopolized or overly commercialized, and more social forces should participate to provide opportunities for artists to showcase and develop. Only in this way can a more open, diverse, and healthy art ecosystem be established. This is also why I want to showcase my works in spaces like IRI.
This exhibition is an experiment of dialogue between works and the public, allowing those who have not had the habit and opportunity to enter galleries and art museums to encounter things beyond their own experience. Whether they are scholars, officials, couriers, cleaners, entrepreneurs, or financiers, perhaps this is an opportunity for them to briefly detach from their daily work and life, break free from the positive meaning of utilitarianism, see another posture and appearance of the world and life, and awaken something in their hearts.
In the face of art, I have always believed that everyone is equal, and everyone actually has their own opinions and sensibility about art. There is no right or wrong, only like or dislike. Even if we don't like it, we should approach it with a tolerant attitude, so that we can learn to treat various different perspectives and things in social life with tolerance.
The egalitarianism of art is not only a positive and upward concept, but also a diversified practice. It encourages us to break through thinking patterns and cultural barriers, allowing more people to benefit from the power of art, and stimulating the vitality and creativity of life. Art is not everywhere, but right now it's just beside us…