TED演讲:一位艺术家对种族暴力的无畏抗争(1)

 As a conceptual artist,  作为一位概念派艺术家，

I'm constantly looking for creative ways to spark challenging conversations.  我经常寻求创新的方式，通过绘画、雕塑、视频和表演

I do this through painting, sculpture, video and performance.  去启发大家思考，一些有挑战性的话题。

But regardless of the format¹, two of my favorite materials are history and dialogue. 但是抛开形式不谈，我最喜欢的材料是历史和对话。

In 2007, I created "Lotus," a seven-and-a-half-foot diameter, 在2007年，我创造了“莲花”，一个直径约2.3米

600-pound glass depiction² of a lotus blossom.  重达600磅的莲花花瓣玻璃刻绘作品。

In Buddhism³, the lotus is a symbol for transcendence and for purity of mind and spirit. 在佛教中，莲花是超然的象征，是纯净的意念和精神的象征。

But a closer look at this lotus reveals each petal⁵ to be the cross-section of a slave ship. 但是仔细看这个莲花，每一个花瓣都是贩卖奴隶的船只的横截面。

This iconic diagram was taken from a British slaving manual  我所临摹的图像来自于英国的奴役手册，

and later used by abolitionists to show the atrocities⁶ of slavery.  它后来被废奴主义者用来展示奴隶制的残忍。

In America, we don't like to talk about slavery, nor do we look at it as a global industry. 在美国我们不愿意讨论奴隶制，我们也不把奴隶制当成全球的产业。

But by using this Buddhist⁷ symbol,  用这个佛学象征

I hope to universalize and transcend⁴ the history and trauma⁸ of black America 我希望可以让大家意识到非裔美国人的历史，治愈他们的的创伤，

and encourage discussions about our shared past.  并且鼓励有关我们共同的过去的讨论。

To create "Lotus," we carved over 6,000 figures.  为了创作“莲花”，我们雕刻了6000多个人物。

And this later led to a commission by the City of New York  之后美国纽约议会

to create a 28-foot version in steel as a permanent installation at the Eagle Academy for Young Men, 在青年鹰学院制造了一个直径8.5米的钢铁版本。

a school for black and latino students, the two groups most affected⁹ by this history. 青年鹰学院是一所为非裔和拉丁裔学生服务的学校。这两类人是受历史影响最大的，

The same two groups are very affected by a more recent phenomenon, but let me digress. 同样是他们，近来又到了巨大的影响。我后面会继续讲这个话题。

I've been collecting wooden African figures from tourist shops and flea¹⁰ markets around the world. 我一直在全球的纪念品商店和跳蚤市场收集木质非洲人物雕塑。

The authenticity¹¹ and origin of them is completely debatable,  他们的来源和真实性是很值得怀疑的，

but people believe these to be imbued¹² with power, or even magic. 但是人们相信雕塑里蕴含能量，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们用在我的作品中的办法。

1 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

2 depiction   

n.描述

参考例句：

• Double rhythms, resounding through the lyric depiction and connecting with each other, indicate the thespian place of mankind and the cognition of the writer to this thespian place. 这双重旋律互为表里，表明了人类的某种悲剧性处境以及作家对这种悲剧性处境的感受和认识。
• A realistic depiction of scenes from everyday domestic life. 日常家居生活的写实画。

3 Buddhism   

n.佛教（教义）

参考例句：

• Buddhism was introduced into China about 67 AD.佛教是在公元67年左右传入中国的。
• Many people willingly converted to Buddhism.很多人情愿皈依佛教。

4 transcend   

vt.超出，超越(理性等)的范围

参考例句：

• We can't transcend the limitations of the ego.我们无法超越自我的局限性。
• Everyone knows that the speed of airplanes transcend that of ships.人人都知道飞机的速度快于轮船的速度。

5 petal   

n.花瓣

参考例句：

• Each white petal had a stripe of red.每一片白色的花瓣上都有一条红色的条纹。
• A petal fluttered to the ground.一片花瓣飘落到地上。

6 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

8 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

9 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

10 flea   

n.跳蚤

参考例句：

• I'll put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more.如果他再来打扰的话，我就要对他不客气了。
• Hunter has an interest in prowling around a flea market.亨特对逛跳蚤市场很感兴趣。

11 authenticity   

n.真实性

参考例句：

• There has been some debate over the authenticity of his will. 对于他的遗嘱的真实性一直有争论。
• The museum is seeking an expert opinion on the authenticity of the painting. 博物馆在请专家鉴定那幅画的真伪。

12 imbued   

v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等）

参考例句：

• Her voice was imbued with an unusual seriousness. 她的声音里充满着一种不寻常的严肃语气。
• These cultivated individuals have been imbued with a sense of social purpose. 这些有教养的人满怀着社会责任感。 来自《简明英汉词典》