采訪檔案 | Erik Leif Ericson
藝術家 | 瑞典，斯德哥爾摩
工作室裏到處都是馬戲團小醜和狂歡節表演者的彩色、幽默的紙娃娃和紙板娃娃。Leif Ericson是讓我們著迷於這樣一個充滿色彩的獨特世界的藝術家。從2D繪畫到3D物體，他創作了各種各樣的藝術作品，現在他91歲了，仍然是一位活躍的藝術家。
The atelier was full of colorful, humorous paper and cardboard dolls of circus clowns and carnival performers. Leif Ericson is the artist who fascinated us with such a unique world full of colors. From 2D paintings to 3D objects, he makes various types of art and, for all his 91 years, is still an active artist.
他的工作室兼住宅位於距離斯德哥爾摩市中心不遠的地方。淺藍色的牆壁，深紅色的窗框和牆壁上的許多圖畫和繪畫，花園裏的眼鏡和招牌，清晰地反映了主人幽默的性格。Leif在旅行中得到靈感，總是試圖創作出能讓人感受到音樂的藝術品。這次，我們參觀了他那迷人的工作室，看起來就像一個玩具盒子。
His atelier-cum-home is located not so far from the Stockholm city center. With the light blue walls, the crimson window frames and so many drawings and paintings on the walls, glasses and signboards in the garden, the house clearly reflects the humorous character of its owner. Leif gets inspirations while traveling and always tries to make artwork from which people can feel music. This time, we visited his charming atelier which looks just like a toy box.
首先，是什麼促使您立誌成為一名藝術家？
First of all, what motivated you to aim to be an artist?
我想，我在六七歲的時候就開始創作了。我的父親是哥德堡附近的一家造紙廠的辦公室職員，他過去常常把各種各樣的紙帶到我們家，而我則通過剪切和粘貼這些紙來製作東西。紙對我來說是最熟悉的材料，因為我從小就在玩高質量的紙。18歲左右，我開始在一所藝術學校學習。那時我遇到了Gunnar和Lisa (Larson)。從那以後，我們一直是好朋友。
As far as I recall, I began to create things at the age of 6 or 7. As my father was office worker at a paper mill in Mölndal near Göteborg, he used to bring various types of papers to our home and I made something by cutting and pasting those papers. Paper is the most familiar material for me because I grew up and had played with quality papers since I was a small boy. Around the age of 18, I started to learn at an art school. I met Gunnar and Lisa (Larson) at that time. Since then, we’ve been really good friends.
您在藝術學校學到了什麼？
What did you learn at the art school?
我在5年的時間裏嚐試了很多不同類型的藝術。繪畫、平麵藝術和繪畫……然後我發現繪畫最適合我，畢業後開始當藝術家。我的一些朋友加入工廠做產品設計或圖案製作。是的，就像麗莎那樣。大約在那個時候，工廠有很多工作機會，包括小工廠。現在可能很難做到，因為藝術家的數量在不斷增加，我們周圍的工廠也越來越少。那時候，有很多工作機會，即使是像我們這樣的藝術學院畢業生，我也和建築師一起工作過。
I tried so many different types of art in 5 years. Painting, graphic art, and drawing… Then I found that painting suited me best among those and began working as an artist after graduation. Some of my friends joined factories to do product design or pattern making. Yeah, just like Lisa did. Around that time, there were many job opportunities at factories, including smaller ones. It may be difficult to do it now because the number of artists keeps increasing and we have fewer factories around. At that time, there were a lot of work opportunities even for art school graduates like us, I worked a lot together with architects.
但您沒有加入工廠。
But you didn’t join a factory.
我不是想當設計師，而是想當藝術家畫家。另一方麵，我可以有機會舉辦展覽，並以此為生。這也是最大的原因之一。1953年，意大利米蘭舉辦了一場展覽，我記得我和Valand Art學校的學生們一起在那裏展出了我的作品。那是在戰爭剛剛結束的時候，整個歐洲都崩潰了，飽受貧困之苦。盡管意大利處於完全混亂的狀態，他們還是試圖舉辦一場展覽，聚集來自歐洲各地的藝術家。在這樣困難的情況下，藝術可能是最不應該考慮的事情，但是巴蘭特藝術學校決定參與進來，並堅信我們可以給人們帶來希望。我很自豪我們能在混亂時期舉辦展覽。
I wanted to work not as a designer, but as an artist painter. On the other hand, I could have opportunities to hold exhibitions and make my living doing so. That was one of the biggest reasons, too. In 1953, an exhibition was held in Milano, Italy and I remember exhibiting my work there together with colleges from Valand Art School. It was just after the war and the whole of Europe was shattered and suffered from poverty. Although Italy was in a state of utter confusion, they tried to hold an exhibition, gathering artists from all over Europe. Art might be the last thing to think about in such a difficult situation, but the Valand Art School decided to participate in it with a strong belief that we could bring hope to people. I’m proud that we could hold an exhibition at a time of confusion.
到目前為止，您創作了哪些藝術作品？
What kind of art have you made so far?
我的作品從壁畫到小木偶應有盡有。公共藝術在瑞典很常見，受委托的藝術家可以在醫院、圖書館、學校、醫療中心和遊泳池等公共場所創作自己的藝術作品。我曾經在哥德堡郊區的牆上畫過戶外的畫同時在公共遊泳池的牆壁上創作了不同的畫作和人物。我有時在壁畫上作畫，有時直接在牆上作畫。除了公共藝術，我妻子卡廷卡(Katinka)還為我保存了各種各樣的文件，包括包裝紙和禮品包裝。所以，用那些紙，我畫圖紙，拚貼畫，數字……
My artwork varies from wall paintings to small puppets. Public art is very common here in Sweden and a commissioned artist can make his/her own artwork in a public space such as a hospital, library, schools, healthcare center and swimming pool. I once did painting outdoor on the walls in a suburb of Göteborg, while having created different paintings and figures on walls of a public swimming pool. I sometimes paint in al fresco, and at other times I paint at the wall directly. Apart from public art, my wife Katinka keeps all kinds of papers including wrappers and gift-wraps for me. So, with those papers, I make drawings, collages, figures…
您做了不少藝術作品！您是怎麼做到的？
You do quite a few types of art! How do you make it?
我在做藝術品或畫一幅畫的時候有了一個想法，然後把它和其他想法聯係起來。我不是從頭到尾都專注於一個任務，而是同時做很多藝術品。我的創作通常以一個突然的隨機想法開始，比如“哦，這個怎麼樣?”例如，我做了一個木偶娃娃，我畫了一幅畫。每件事都是相互聯係的，因為每個故事都是相互聯係的。
I get an idea when making artwork or painting a picture, and then connect it with other ideas. I don’t focus on one task from beginning to end, but make many artworks all at the same time. My creation often starts with a sudden random thought like “Oh, how about this?” For example, I make a puppet doll which I painted in a picture. Everything is linked as each story is connected to the other.
您開始製作木偶的原因是什麼？
What was the reason you started to make puppets?
其實我一開始是為我的孩子們做的。然後我認為3D對象可能更適合他們玩。一開始，我並不是為了展覽或受委托創作的。後來，我的第二任妻子卡廷卡在我們相遇後也對它產生了很大的影響。因為她是幼兒園老師，她讓我用我的紙娃娃給孩子們表演一個遊戲，所以我們一起做了。隨著我為孩子們玩耍的機會增加，我開始製作更多的3D物體而不是2D物體。她也一直在為我收集紙板和紙張。我用那些用過的紙做我的藝術品。它的重量也很輕。她退休後，我停下來為孩子們表演。
I actually made it for my children at the beginning. Then I thought 3D objects might be better for them to play with. In the beginning I made it not for an exhibition or as commissioned work. Later my second wife Katinka also became a big influence on it after we met. Because she worked as a kindergarten teacher, she asked me to perform a play for children with my paper dolls so we did it together. As my opportunities to play for children increased, I started to make more 3D objects than 2D ones. She has been collecting cardboard and papers for me, too. I make my artwork from those used papers. It’s also light in weight. I stopped to perform for children after her retirement.
順便問一下，您為什麼決定住在這裏？
By the way, what was the reason you decided to live here?
自從1970年我和孩子們搬到這裏以來，我就一直住在這裏。我很高興住在這所房子裏，因為我在這裏有我的工作室，我可以花時間和我的孩子們一起做藝術品。當我和卡廷卡結婚時，我沒有改變住的地方。這房子有點偏，但仍然很舒適(笑)。後麵有一個寬敞的花園，我們可以在這裏放鬆一下。一樓有廚房、休息室和工作室，二樓有臥室。我們把半地下室用作洗衣房。
I have lived here since I moved in with my children in 1970. I’ve been very happy living in this house because I have my atelier here and could spend my time with my children while making artwork. I didn’t change my living place when married Katinka. This house is a bit leaning to one side, but still cozy (laughs). With a spacious garden behind, we can have a relaxing time here. There is a kitchen, lounge and atelier on the first floor while bed rooms are located on the second floor. And we use the semi-basement room as a laundry.
您通常如何度過一天？
How do you usually spend your day?
這取決於當天，但我通常根據日出的時間在8:30或早上9點起床。然後我做一些茶，而卡廷卡做三明治。大多數時候，我們會把托盤帶到樓上，然後吃早餐，透過窗戶看到花園。然後我通常花一天的大部分時間在我的工作室。在瑞典，我們通常在上午10點和下午3點喝茶休息，我想在白天盡可能多地工作。哦，我每周至少烤兩次麵包。雖然我每天大部分時間都呆在工作室裏，但當我厭倦工作時，我就會去廚房烤麵包(笑)。這對我來說是個受歡迎的休息時間。
It depends on the day, but I usually wake up around 8:30 or 9AM according to the time of sunrise. Then I make some tea while Katinka makes open sandwiches. Most of the time, we bring our trays upstairs and have our breakfast with viewing our garden through the window. Then I usually spend most of a day in my atelier. We normally take tea breaks at 10AM and 3PM in Sweden, I want to work as much as possible during daytime hours. Oh, and I bake bread at least twice a week. Though I spend much of my day in my atelier, I go to kitchen to bake bread when feeling tired of working (laughs). That’s a welcome break for me.
您的工作室有很多窗戶，非常舒適。
Your atelier is really cozy with many windows.
我之所以選擇這個房間，是因為它從三麵的窗戶上獲得了很多陽光。看，這個窗戶全天都能看到陽光。 如果我的工作室隻能從一個方向接收陽光，那麼很難長時間呆在那裏。 當你看到顏色時，光很重要。 因為冬天的日子短暫，光線對我們來說變得更加珍貴。 這是我日常生活中最重要的事情之一。
I chose this room because it gets a lot of sunshine from the windows on three sides Look, this window gets the sun throughout the day. If my atelier could receive sunlight from only one direction, it would be difficult to stay there for long periods of time. Light is important when you see colors. Because the days are short in winter, light becomes even more precious to us. It’s one of the most important things in my daily life.
您的作品是否隨季節而變化？
Does what you make vary with the seasons?
雖然我沒有這些意圖，但可能就是這樣。 在這個工作室裏，我主要畫畫和剪紙或製作3D物品。 在我在達拉納的避暑別墅裏，我通常會在6月到7月期間一直專注於繪畫。
Though I don’t have those intentions, it might be as a result. In this atelier, I mainly paint and cut papers or make 3D objects. In my summer house in Dalarna, I usually focus on painting while staying there from June to July.
在這個房間裏有什麼對您來說是重要的東西，能告訴我們嗎？
Please let us know if you have anything that means a lot to you in this room.
沒有剪刀我做不成洋娃娃。我最喜歡的顏色是這種藍色。所以顏色對我來說很重要。我也喜歡鈷藍色。我用這種藍色和其他明亮的顏色畫了我們花園裏的人物和汽車。藍色很漂亮，不是嗎？
I can never do the dolls without a pair of scissors. And this paint here, this blue is my favorite. So, the color is really important to me. I love cobalt blue, too. I painted the figures and mobiles in our garden with this blue and other bright colors. It’s very nice blue, isn’t it?
您的創作靈感來自哪裏？
Where do you get your inspiration from?
我經常在旅行中受到啟發，因為我可以用我的眼睛看到同樣的東西。對我來說，聲音也是一個非常重要的因素。我讓我的藝術作品在我的腦海裏聽到音樂。我做的許多娃娃也拿著樂器。因為我經常演奏爵士樂，我根據我從音樂中得到的東西來創作，然後我從我剛剛完成的作品中得到靈感，創作出不同的藝術作品。我甚至從自己身上得到了靈感。而且，我一直是查理·卓別林的忠實粉絲。我愛電影。在老電影中，故事發展不像最近的電影那樣迅速，而是有適當的情節。我經常受到這些電影中所描繪的動作的影響。我想，我作品中的時間流逝也來自於那些。
I often get inspired while traveling, because I can see the same things with fresh eyes then. And for me, sound is also a very important factor. I make my artwork hearing music in my mind. Many of the dolls I made hold musical instruments, too. Because I used to play jazz, I make things based on what I got from music, and then I get inspired from what I just completed and make a different artwork. I get an inspiration even from myself. Also, I’ve been a big fan of Charlie Chaplin for a long time. I love movies. In old movies, the stories don’t develop so rapidly like in recent ones, but have proper plots. I was often influenced by the moves depicted in such movies. The passage of time in my artwork also comes from those, I think.
您說您的靈感來自於一個動作，但您從中得到的是一幅靜止的畫麵。這很有趣。
You said you are inspired by a move, but what you make from that is a still picture. That’s interesting.
畫中有動作和聲音。我做的藝術品可以讓你感受到這些因素。我的作品都不是自己完成的。我的每一件作品都與另一件作品相連，永不分離，就像一部電影。也許我可以說木偶適合我的工作風格，因為它們是3D的，可以移動。你可以通過木偶而不是繪畫來感受動作和聲音。
There are moves and sounds in a painting. I make art pieces from which you can feel those factors as you see. None of my artwork is completed by itself. Each piece of my work connects to another and is never separated, just like a film. Maybe I can say that puppets suit my style of work because those are 3D and can move. You can feel the move and sound more from puppets than from paintings.
您認為您創作藝術的動機是什麼？
What do you think motivates you to make art?
回想起來，我的大部分工作都與繪畫和平麵工作有關。但實際上我也喜歡一些過程，比如在一個人物上剪紙和粘貼。我保持我的頑皮的態度和享受樂趣的願望，因為那是我創造的源泉。
Looking back, most of my work is related to painting and graphic work. But I actually enjoy some processes like cutting and pasting papers on a figure, too. I keep my playful attitude and desire to have fun, because those are the sources of my creation.
您的作品看起來很有生氣。
Your artwork almost looks alive.
我每天都在工作室裏畫畫。我覺得繼續這樣做很有意義，也很重要。我用我的雙手創作的所有藝術品實際上都“活”在我的工作室裏。
I paint or draw in my atelier every single day. I feel it is very meaningful and important to keep doing so. All the art pieces I have created like that with my hands actually “live” with me in my atelier.
Erik Leif Ericson
Leif Ericson於1927年出生於瑞典Mölndal，1955年畢業於哥德堡的Valand藝術學校。他的創作靈感來自於各種各樣的東西，包括五彩繽紛的嘉年華、美麗的街景、木偶劇、馬戲團和爵士音樂，他在歐洲各地旅行時，創作繪畫、拚貼畫和紙製人物。他的作品大多以公共藝術的形式在瑞典展出，也在許多瑞典博物館展出。
版權歸屬
Interview © Chizuru Atsuta
Photos © Norio Kidera
